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With all the speed and power he could summon, he 

DELIVERED A CRUSHING BLOW 




Twilight Animal Series 


WHITE TAIL 
THE DEER’S 
ADVENTURES 


By 

GEORGE ETHELBERT WALSH 

jStUhor of ** Bumper the White Rabbit ** Bumper the %^hite Rabbit in the 
WoodSy* ^^Bumper the White Rabbit and His FoeSy* '^'•Bumper the 
White Rabbit and His Friendsy* **Bobby Gray Squirrely' 

Bobby Gray SquirreVs Adventures'" Etc. 


Colored Illustrations by 

EDWIN J. PRETTIE 


THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY 

CHICAGO PHILADELPHIA TORONTO 


TWILIGHT ANIMAL SERIES 
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 


FROM 4 TO 10 YEARS OF AGE 



By 

GEORGE ETHELBERT WALSH 


M\(cZ 


TtO 

Y^0.7 


LIST OF TITLES 


1 BUMPER THE WHITE RABBIT 

2 BUMPER THE WHITE RABBIT IN THE WOODS 

3 BUMPER THE WHITE RABBIT AND HIS FOES 

4 BUMPER THE WHITE RABBIT AND HIS FRIENDS 

5 BOBBY GRAY SQUIRREL 

6 BOBBY GRAY SQUIRREL’S ADVENTURES 

7 BUSTER THE BIG BROWN BEAR 

8 BUSTER THE BIG BROWN BEAR’S ADVENTURES 

9 WHITE TAIL THE DEER 

10 WHITE TAIL THE DEER’S ADVENTURES 

11 WASHER. THE RACCOON 

(Other titles in preparation) 

Issued in uniform style with this volume 
PRICE 65 CENTS EACH, Postpaid 

EACH VOLUME CONTAINS COLORED ILLUSTRATIONS 


Copyright 1922 by 

THE JOHN C, WINSTON COMPANY 


Copyright MCMXVII by George E. Walsh 


SEP 19 *23 

©C1A711064 


INTRODUCTION TO THE 
TWILIGHT ANIMAL STORIES 
By the Author 

All little boys and girls who love animals 
should become acquainted with Bumper the 
white rabbit, with Bobby Gray Squirrel, 
with Buster the bear, and with White Tail 
the deer, for they are all a jolly lot, brave and 
fearless in danger, and so lovable that you 
won’t lay down any one of the books without 
saying wistfully, ‘T almost wish I had them 
really and truly as friends and not just story- 
book acquaintances.” That, of course, is a 
splendid wish; but none of us could afford to 
have a big menagerie of wild animals, and 
that’s just what you would have to do if you 
went outside of the books. Bumper had many 
friends, such as Mr. Blind Rabbit, Fuzzy Wuzz 
and Goggle Eyes, his country cousins; and 
Bobby Gray Squirrel had his near cousins. 
Stripe the chipmunk and Webb the flying 
squirrel; while Buster and White Tail were 
favored with an endless number of friends and 
relatives. If we turned them all loose from the 
books, and put them in a ten-acre lot — but 


INTRODUCTION 


no, ten acres wouldn't be big enough to 
accommodate them, perhaps not a hundred 
acres. 

So we will leave them just where they are 
— in the books — and read about them, and 
let our imaginations take us to them where we 
can see them playing, skipping, singing, and 
sometimes fighting, and if we read very care- 
fully, and think as we go along, we may come 
to know them even better than if we went out 
hunting for them. 

Another thing we should remember. By 
leaving them in the books, hundreds and 
thousands of other boys and girls can enjoy 
them, too, sharing with us the pleasures of 
the imagination, which after all is one of the 
greatest things in the world. In gathering 
them together in a real menagerie, we would be 
selfish both to Bumper, Bobby, Buster, White 
Tail and their friends as well as to thousands 
of other little readers who could not share 
them with us. So these books of Twilight 
Animal Stories are dedicated to all little boys 
and girls who love wild animals. All others 
are forbidden to read them! They wouldn't 
understand them if they did. 

So come out into the woods with me, and 
let us listen and watch, and I promise you it 
will be worth while. 


CONTENTS 


Story Page 

I White Tail Jumps Stepping Stone 

Brook 9 

II Father Buck’s Failure 17 

III Young Black Buck’s Challenge 25 

IV Father Buck’s Decision 33 

V Young Black Buck’s Challenge to a 

Race 41 

VI Downy the Woodpecker Brings Start- 
ling News 49 

VII A Race With Puma and Timber 57 

VIII Mrs. Puma and Timber Fight 65 

IX Young Black Buck Has An Accident — 73 

X White Tail’s Magnanimous Act 81 

XI White Tail’s Adventure in the Camp 89 

XII White Tail Escapes 97 

XIII White Tail Hears Unpleasant 

News 105 

XIV Choosing a New Leader 113 

XV The Great Combat 121 

XVI White Tail Made Leader of the 

Herd 129 


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WHITE TAIL^S ADVENTURES 


STORY I 

White Tail Jumps Stepping Stone Brook 

White Tail grew rapidly in size and 
•trength, his long, clean limbs showing taut 
muscles and great springing power; and his 
neck grew thick and short, which is well for a 
buck, who must use it in savage thrusts when 
the head is a battering ram. His horns were 
short and bony, but they protruded in front 
like knobs against which it would be unpleas- 
ant to fall. 

But his antlers were his pride. They spread 
out fan-shape on his head, crowning it with 
a glory that made Mother Deer supremely 
happy. At times it seemed as if the antlers 
were too heavy for the head and neck, but 
White Tail carried them easily, and when he 
shook them in sport or anger any one could 
see they were just fitted to him. 

In time he stood as high as Father Buck, 
and a head taller than Mother Deer. The 
day the tip of his antlers reached an inch above 
Father Buck’s, he felt a little thrill of pride. 

9 


10 White Tail’s Adrentures 

To be as big and tall as his father had always 
been his ambition. But while it pleased 
Father Buck that his son was growing so big, 
it made him a little sad. 

“You will soon be ready to take my place, 
White Tail,” he said. “You’re growing taller 
and stronger every day.” 

“That may be, Father Buck,” he replied, 
“but it will be many a season before I can run 
as fast and far as you, or show the same 
strength in a fight. Oh, no, there’s little 
chance of my equaling you for many, many 
seasons.” 

Father Buck merely smiled and nodded his 
head. “I want you to run out with me to 
Stepping Stone brook,” he said simply. 
“There is something I want to show you.” 

White Tail was always eager for a run with 
Father Buck. Nearly every day they went off 
together to hunt and explore. Father Buck 
had been teaching him all the ways and tricks 
of the woods so that his education would be 
complete. 

It was a cool, crisp day, and they raa 
through the woods, side by side, in long, gen- 
tle lopes until they came to Stepping Stone 
brook. This was a small stream confined be- 
tween two ledges of rocks, with stones placed 
in it for stepping across when one didn’t want 


White Tail Jumps Brook 11 

to wet the feet. Frequently the whole herd 
crossed it, using the stones so that not a foot 
touched the water. 

When they reached the brook, White Tail 
immediately took a long drink of the cooling 
water, for their run had made him hot and 
thirsty. Father Buck watched him in silence, 
a very sad expression in his beautiful eyes. 
There was admiration also, but a little sad- 
ness. 

“White Tail,” he said suddenly, “I have 
brought you here to tell you something. Step- 
ping Stone brook has always been the test for 
our leaders. Here it is that many a youngster 
has first earned his right to lead the herd, and, 
alas! many an older leader has broken his 
heart here.” 

White Tail looked up in surprise, and 
glanced from the speaker to the trickling 
waters. He was clearly puzzled by the words 
he had heard. 

“No buck can be leader of the herd unless 
he can jump across Stepping Stone brook, 
clearing it from bank to bank without falter- 
ing or stumbling. If he fails he must wait 
until he can make the leap. Many, many 
have tried and failed, and others — ” 

White Tail’s eyes gleamed with anticipa- 


12 White Tail’s Adventures 

tion. He liked to take risks and attempt diffi- 
cult tasks. 

‘T see,” he said, laughing joyfully, ''you 
brought me here to see if I could make the 
leap. Well, I can do it! I’ll show you. I 
won’t disappoint you. Father Buck.” 

"I know you won’t. White Tail,” was the 
reply. "I shouldn’t have brought you here 
so soon if I thought you would fail. But I 
had another purpose, too.” 

"What is it?” asked White Tail. 

"I will tell you later. Now I want to see 
you take the leap. Years ago, many, many 
seasons ago, I came here, and took it. There 
on the rocks you can see the marks of my leap. 
It was one of the longest ever made by any of 
our people. I was naturally proud of it. I 
shall never forget that day. I think it was 
the happiest of my life — except one.” 

"Which other one?” asked White Tail. 

"The day I defeated Black Buck in the final 
struggle for leadership,” was the reply. "It 
was a battle that lasted for hours, and all the 
herd watched us. We were down, and up 
again and again, struggling, fighting and 
bucking until it seemed as if both of us would 
die from exhaustion. But I finally won. I 
got him down on his knees, and then rolled 
him over, and stood there until he acknowl- 


White Tail Jumps Brook 13 

edged my leadership. That of course was the 
happiest day of my life.” 

White Tail thrilled at this story, and for a 
moment forgot the thing he was going to do 
until his father spoke again. 

“Now let me see you take the brook in a 
jump.” 

White Tail trotted back on the embank- 
ment, but he discovered there was little room 
for a start. It was almost a standing leap. 
That was why it was so hard. Across on the 
other side the embankment shelved down 
gradually to the shore, with grass and moss 
covering the bold face of the rock. 

“Take your time,” Father Buck cautioned. 
“Measure the distance well, and do not spring 
unless you’re sure of yourself. Many a buck 
thatlailed the first time never got his courage 
up to repeat it. It is the first leap that 
counts.” 

Reflecting long and earnestly on his father’s 
words. White Tail measured the distance with 
his eyes, and then drew back as far as he 
could. He gathered his powerful hind legs 
together, squatted down on them, pawed the 
rock with his front ones, and stood a moment 
in trembling anticipation. His nostrils di- 
lated, his eyes flashed. Then with a sudden 
forward spring he darted toward the edge of 


14 


White Tail’s Adventures 


the rock, and when he reached it his hind 
hoofs dug on the rock for a secure purchase. 
There was a momentary hesitation, as if he 
had decided not to make the attempt. Then 
his body shot upward and outward across the 
brook in the prettiest jump that any deer had 
ever taken. 

He cleared the brook, with its stepping 
stones, passed the opposite edge, and landed 
all four hoofs firmly planted on the upper 
part of the slope. He had made the jump 
successfully. 

Father Buck crossed the stream on the 
stones, and glanced down at his old mark. A 
spirit of exultation seized him. 

“You have passed my old mark, White Tail, 
beaten it by a foot,” he said. “You will some 
day be leader, I know.” 

White Tail was as much interested as his 
father in his triumph. He examined the 
marks, and then wanted to repeat the jump to 
see if he could better it. 

“No,” cautioned Father Buck, “once is suffi- 
cient. The second time may not be so good. 
You have established your mark. We will 
scratch it here with our hoofs as a challenge 
to all others. Let Young Black Buck beat 
it if he can. Until he does that is your mark.” 

White Tail accepted this order, and made 


White Tail Jumps Brook 15 

no further attempt to jump the brook. If 
Young Black Buck beats it some day then he 
would have a chance to try it again, and, if 
possible, score a longer jump. 

“What was your other purpose in bringing 
me here today?” he asked remembering his 
father’s words. 

“Ah! That is the sad part of it,” sighed 
Father Buck. “But you must know. I will 
show you.” 

Just what he meant will appear in the next 
story. 



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STORY II 


Father Buck’s Failure 

Father Buck walked across the brook again, 
and took his place on the rock from which the 
jump was made. White Tail immediately 
concluded he was going to show him how 
much farther he could jump when he was a 
young buck. 

‘T know you will beat me,” White Tail said. 
‘‘But if you do, won’t you give me another 
chance?” 

“Yes, if such a miracle should happen,” was 
the reply. 

White Tail stood eagerly watching, while 
his father crouched as he had for the spring. 
How noble he looked with his big antlered 
head, with streaks of gray and white hair 
curling around the roots! White Tail was 
proud of him. 

Suddenly Father Buck rushed forward, hes- 
itated at the brink to get a good purchase with 
his hoofs, and then up in the air and straight 
17 


18 


White Tail’s Adventures 


across his body shot. White Tail watched him 
with gleaming eyes. 

Then something happened which startled 
him. The spring had not been as powerful 
as he thought, for instead of beating White 
Tail’s mark, or reaching his own, Father Buck 
missed the shore by a foot. His hind legs ac- 
tually splashed in the water. 

‘‘What happened?” exclaimed White Tail 
in amazement. “Did you slip, or — or — ” 

“No,” replied Father Buck sadly, “it was 
as I expected. I am getting old, White Tail, 
and have lost my spring. I have reached the 
age where I am no longer qualified to lead the 
herd. If any of the other bucks knew this 
they would instantly demand a new leader. 
It’s the law of the herd.” 

“But — but — ” stammered White Tail. 
“You could do it again. You didn’t get a 
good start.” 

“No, it wasn’t that. White Tail. It was my 
age. I can no longer spring across Stepping 
Stone brook. I am not fit to be leader of the 
herd.” 

Father Buck’s proud head drooped, and 
something like a tear gleamed in his eyes. It 
was hard to acknowledge that he was failing, 
and that in a few seasons he would be looked 
upon as a useless old buck who would have to 


Father Buck’s Failure 


19 


take orders from another much younger than 
he. But it was the law of the herd — and the 
law of life. 

can’t believe it!” exclaimed White Tail. 
“I won’t believe it! I know you can leap 
across the brook. You must try it again. 
What I can do you can do 1” 

Faher Buck raised his head and smiled. 
All the sadness left his eyes, and pride and 
gratefulness took its place. 

“No, White Tail,” he replied. “I cannot 
do it. I put in that jump all the strength I 
had — and I failed. But don’t think I’m sad. 
I’m not. I knew it had to come some day. 
But I’m glad that my son can take my place. 
I can be happy yet — and Mother Deer will 
share it with me — because you have qualified 
so well to be our leader. I am thankful for 
that.” 

But White Tail was not convinced. It was 
hard for him to accept the truth. Father 
Buck was still to him the finest, proudest, 
wisest and strongest leader he knew, and he 
wanted him to continue so. 

“Some other day when you feel better you 
will come out here and try the jump again,” 
he said. “I know you don’t feel well today. 
Tomorrow you will feel better.” 


20 


White Tail’s Adventures 


Father Buck shook his head slowly. 
see you are hard to convince, White Tail. 
But I will show you in another way. How 
far is it from here to Puma’s hunting ground?” 

“Ten miles or more.” 

“Then we will go to it. We will race to it 
at a good speed. I want you to set the pace — 
the swiftest you can. You must run as if 
Puma or Timber Wolf was on your trail. I 
will follow. You must neither look to the 
right or to the left, or back of you. Run with 
all your might.” 

“You will follow close behind me?” 

“I will follow you.” 

Now White Tail looked with glee upon this 
run, for he was in fine condition. His limbs 
seemed aching for a long, hard run, and his 
father wanted to see how quickly he could 
make the race. He would show him. He 
wouldn’t disappoint him. 

Shortly afterward he started off, taking a 
broad trail through the woods. He trotted 
along merrily, and soon began running in long 
leaps and bounds that carried him far and fast. 
When he came to obstructions in his path he 
leaped over them as easily as a boy or girl 
would jump over a log. 

Faster and faster he flew through the 
woods, his fine head set well back, and his 


Father Buck’s Failure 


21 


antlers almost resting on his neck. His eyes 
were kept glued to the trail ahead. He ran 
so easily and smoothly that it seemed as if he 
was making no effort. For the first five miles 
he showed hardly any results of his wild run, 
but in the last half of the distance he began 
to perspire a little, and the white foam settled 
on his flanks. 

But he never stopped or turned until he 
reached the boundary line of Puma’s hunting 
ground. Then he halted and whirled around. 

“How was that?” he asked. 

But Father Buck was not there. He was 
alone. His father was nowhere in sight. 
Startled and surprised by this he trotted back 
a few paces and called to him. Then, not 
finding him, he became frightened. Had 
something happened to his father? 

Perhaps Puma had sprung out of the bushes 
and killed him, or Timber Wolf had driven 
him off the trail, and w^as even now chasing 
him. White Tail was so alarmed that he re- 
traced his footsteps, calling every little while 
for Father Buck. It was a dangerous thing 
to do, for in calling he might attract Puma or 
Timber Wolf. But his anxiety for his father 
made him forget all caution. 

He found him a long way back on the trail, 
lying in the bushes, panting with exhaustion. 


22 


White Tail’s Adventures 


As soon as he discovered him, White Tail ran 
up to him 'svitba little bleat of joy. 

‘^Oh, I thought something terrible had hap- 
pened to you!” he exclaimed. ‘What is it? 
Did you stumble? You haven’t broken a leg, 
have you?” 

“No, White Tail,” was the panting reply. 
“Nothing has happened to me. I couldn’t 
keep up with you. I tried my best. I hung 
on until I fell down with exhaustion. I have 
run my last race. I did it to show you that I 
am growing older and that my powers are 
weakening. You would not be convinced 
when I failed to leap the brook. Now you 
will have to believe.” 

Then it dawned upon White Tail that the 
race to Puma’s hunting ground was simply to 
show him that his father could no longer keep 
up with the young bucks of the herd. It was 
hard for Father Buck thus to show his failing 
powers, but it was better to do it with his son 
as the only witness than to fail before all the 
herd. 

“It is my downfall. White Tail,” he added. 
“But I wanted only you as witness. Now you 
know. My leadership will soon end, but 
when the day comes you must be able to take 
my place. That will be my satisfaction, and 
your mother’s. She knew that the time was 


Father Buck’s Failure 23 

approaching, and she will not be heavy- 
hearted.” 

White Tail was terribly distressed by this 
news, but after a while a fierce joy came to 
him. “I shall prove myself worthy of you. 
Father Buck,” he said. “Yes, I will take your 
place. I will fight for it now that you and 
Mother Deer want it. Yes, I will fight for 
the leadership until the last breath.” 

“Those are the words I’ve longed to hear. 
White Tail. Now I am contented. We will 
return to the herd. My day’s work is done.” 

As they trotted slowly back to the herd, they 
planned for the future. Both knew that the 
future race would be between White Tail and 
Young Black Buck. But of this you will read 
in the next story. 



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STORY III 


Young Black Buck’s Challenge 

Young Black Buck had, of course, been in 
training all this time, for it is the law of the 
deer that none shall aspire for the leadership 
of a herd until he has learned all the v/ays of 
the woods, and can out-pace and out-jump his 
father and mother. All the laws of the deer 
are very strict, for the safety of all depends 
upon the leader. 

Black Buck had taken his son through the 
woods, as Father Buck had taken White Tail, 
showing him the dangers and pitfalls, and in- 
structing him how to avoid them and what 
to do when danger threatened. He had taken 
him secretly to Stepping Stone brook, and 
made him jump it; and he had tested his speed 
and endurance in a race with himself. 

Father Buck had no illusions about what 
Black Buck was doing, and he tried to prepare 
White Tail to meet Young Black Buck on 
equal terms. It was like bringing up two 
boys for a contest in speed, strength, endur- 
25 


26 


White Tail’s Adventures 


ance, wisdom and courage. It was a Spartan 
education, but it was necessary for the good 
of the herd. 

Then one day the clash came for a prelim- 
inary trial of skill. The herd had wandered 
down from the timberland to the open woods 
below where the new buds of the birches of- 
fered succulent food. There was no sign of 
danger in the air, and the herd grazed peace- 
fully on soft young twigs and opening buds. 

When they had wandered to the brink of 
the canyon that cut through the North Woods 
below Stepping Stone brook, the leaders 
paused and started to turn the young does and 
fawns back. It was dangerous to permit them 
to eat too close to the edge of the precipice. 
If one should fall over, the rocks below would 
crack every bone in its body. 

Black Buck suddenly raised his head, and 
then whispered to his son: “Think you can 
jump the canyon safely? If so it is a good 
time to challenge White Tail. We may find 
out then what he can do. If he balks at it, 
we will know he is timid or under-trained.” 

Young Black Buck walked to the edge, and 
gazed down it and then across it. It was a 
dangerous leap, for if he missed by an inch he 
would fall to the bottom thirty feet below 
where the hard rocks would crush him. He 


Young Black Buck’s Challenge 27 

sniffed the air, and then returned to his 
father’s side. 

“I can do it,” he replied. “I’ve made longer 
jumps.” 

“Yes, but if you should fail you would be 
killed. Make sure of yourself before you 
sound the challenge. Go below, where the 
canyon is not so steep, but just as wide. PraC’ 
tice there alone until you have confidence. If 
you fail no harm will be done. You can wait 
another day.” 

Young Black Buck separated himself from 
the herd and made his way to a point half a 
mile down the canyon. On either side here 
the rocks were covered with moss and turf, 
and the edges dropped only a few feet. If he 
failed the fall would not hurt him. 

Unseen by the others, he made the attempt, 
and cleared the space successfully in the first 
leap. Then to make sure he tried it again 
and again, lighting easily on the opposite em- 
bankment each time. 

Gloating with pride and triumph, he trotted 
back to Black Buck, and reported. “I never 
failed once. If the distance here is no greater 
across I can do it easily.” 

“It is no greater, but if anything a few 
inches less,” replied Black Buck. “If you 


28 White Tail’s Adventures 

can do it below, you will do it here. Issue the 
challenge.” 

Young Black Buck trotted away, and, rais- 
ing his head in the air, a peculiar bellowing 
noise issued from his throat. It was the buck’s 
challenge to a contest. Every deer knew its 
meaning, and raised a head to see who was 
calling. White Tail, feeding some distance 
off with Mother Deer and Father Buck, heard 
it, and instantly turned his head in Young 
Black Buck’s direction. 

‘Tt’s Young Black Buck’s challenge,” whis- 
pered Father Buck. “You must accept it. It 
may be a challenge to a race or fight. What- 
ever it is you must accept it.” 

“I’m ready,” replied White Tail, starting 
off. 

“Who will leap the canyon with me!” bel- 
lowed Young Black Buck. “I shall lead 
where none dare follow! None shall then dis- 
pute my claim to leadership. Come those 
who dare!” 

Before White Tail reached the spot, the 
whole herd was crowding around the chal- 
lenger. They saw a prospect of a free enter- 
tainment, and they bucked and butted each 
other to get in front. None of the other young 
bucks had accepted the challenge. One 
glance at the yawning depth of the canyon 


Young Black Buck’s Challenge 29 

had made them withdraw with sickening fear. 
It looked much deeper than it was, and twice 
as wide. 

White Tail pushed his way through the 
crowds until he stood before Young Black 
Buck. The sight of him brought a quick re- 
mark from the challenger’s mouth. 

‘You, White Tail!” he exclaimed. ‘You 
wish to accept the challenge? Beware how 
you speak without thinking. Go and look 
down the chasm! It means death if you fail! 
Think twice before you speak!” 

Now when Father Buck heard the nature 
of the challenge he felt a great fear. He had 
never shown the canyon to White Tail, and he 
didn’t know whether he could leap across it 
or not. He reproached himself for omitting 
this part of his training. 

Mother Deer’s heart gave a great throb. 
If White Tail failed she knew he would be 
crushed to death on the rocks below. She 
could not endure such a sight. Better that her 
son should lose the leadership than be killed. 

“No, no. White Tail,” she cried, “you must 
not accept the challenge. You must not! I 
can’t lose you!” 

Black Buck, who had been standing back 
of the crowd, heard, and was greatly pleased, 
for he knew now that Father Buck hadn’t 


30 White Tail’s Adventures 

taught White Tail to jump the canyon. Few 
had ever taken the leap without practicing 
first at the place below where there was no 
danger. It was the fear of not being able to 
clear the distance that caused the real danger. 

“You must not say that,” interrupted Father 
Buck, frowning at Mother Deer. “The honor 
of our family is at stake. White Tail must ac- 
cept the challenge.” 

Before Mother Deer could answer this, 
White Tail had settled the dispute. “What- 
ever you can do. Young Black Buck,” he said, 
“I will do. More than that, I will lead.” 

“You will take the leap first?” queried 
Young Black Buck. “Then, as the chal- 
lenger, I have the right of choice. You can 
go first. White Tail.” 

“But where I go you must follow,” retorted 
White Tail. “If not, you shall be forever dis- 
graced.” 

“If you are afraid I’ll lead,” sneered Young 
Black Buck. 

“No, I’ll go first!” 

White Tail didn’t even go to the edge of 
the precipice to look down or to measure the 
distance across. What was the use? He 
would make the greatest jump of his life. If 
he failed he would die knowing he had done 
his best. What more could he do? 



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Young Black Buck’s Challenge 31 

He ran back a short distance, and then fac- 
ing the canyon he made a swift dash for it. 
At the brink he threw all his strength in a 
niighty leap, and his body shot upward and 
outward, forming a beautiful curve. He kept 
his eyes ahead, and never once looked down. 

It was a splendid jump. It carried him 
clear across the canyon, and landed him safely 
a yard beyond the opposite edge. He knew 
by the shouts that he had succeeded even be- 
fore his feet touched ground. Then with a 
proud toss of his head he turned and looked at 
Young Black Buck. It was his turn now. 
Could he do it? 


7 





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STORY IV 


Father Buck’s Decision 

Young Black Buck was greatly chagrined 
at White Tail’s great jump, for he knew that 
he had crossed the canyon without any prev- 
ious training. It showed that White Tail had 
courage as well as strength and skill. It was 
a triumph for him that none appreciated more 
than Young Black Buck and his father. 

‘‘Now, Young Black Buck,” White Tail 
called from the opposite side, “follow me, or 
forever cease challenging.” 

There was nothing for Young Black Buck 
to do but take the jump. All eyes were turned 
on him. For the first time a feeling of fear 
possessed him. He had looked down the 
chasm, and knew what waited him if he fell 
short. Suppose he should make a false step 
or stumble at the last moment. The fall would 
be terrible. If not actually killed, he would 
break his legs at the very least. 

Black Buck saw the expression of fear in his 
son’s eyes, and whispered to him : “Don’t look 
below! Keep your eyes up and ahead!” 

33 


34 White Tail’s Adventures 

Young Black Buck gathered himself for 
the short run, and long jump. He knew that 
he had to take it, and that he had to succeed. 
He ran with all his might, and then sprang 
forward in a quick spring. 

If it hadn’t been for his nervousness, he cer- 
tainly would have cleared the chasm without 
accident, but chagrin, anger and fear had pos- 
session of him, and they were responsible for 
a misstep at the last moment. When his body 
was launched through the air, he knew that 
he hadn’t put in the jump all the power he 
had. 

Then too the fear of a failure alarmed him. 
He glanced down, and saw the terrible chasm 
yawning below to receive him. This gave his 
body a side lurch, and instead of clearing the 
chasm in a beautiful jump his forefeet touched 
the opposite side only a foot from the edge, 
and his hind hoofs missed it by an inch. 

No one could see the accident so quickly or 
plainly as White Tail, who stood within a few 
feet of him. He saw that Young Black Buck 
was going to miss before his front hoofs 
touched the embankment. 

Now the thought of his missing the rock, 
and falling to the bottom of the chasm in a 
broken heap, horrified White Tail so that he 
forgot all his triumph and desire to win. His 


Father Buck’s Decision 85 

greatest desire was to save Young Black Buck 
from an awful death. 

Before he reached the embankment, White 
Tail jumped to the edge, and quick as a wink 
stretched forth his head, caught Young Black 
Buck by a prong of his antlers. He got a good 
hold with his teeth, and then as the leaping 
buck’s hind feet slipped down and his body 
began to sway backward. White Tail braced 
his feet, and jerked backward with all his 
strength. 

It was enough to overcome the balance of 
the frightened jumper. Instead of falling 
backward into the chasm, he stumbled for- 
ward, and then catching his hind hoofs on the 
edge he managed to climb up the embankment. 

It was all done so quickly and skilfully 
that the watchers on the opposite bank hardly 
knew what had happened. They knew in 
some way that Young Black Buck had 
stumbled and nearly fallen in the chasm. 
They had also seen White Tail reach forward 
and grab or push him. They couldn’t very 
well say just what he did. 

But Black Buck, seeing that his son had 
failed, and angry at the thought of White 
Tail’s triumph, was quick to see a way to 
change defeat into triumph. Before his son 
could recover his breath and stop his trem- 


36 White Tail’s Adventures 

bling, Black Buck roared out with all his 
might: 

‘‘Foul! That was a foul! White Tail got 
in the way, and tried to throw my son off the 
precipice 1” 

“No, No!” several shouted. “Not that! 
White Tail wouldn’t do that!” 

“Ask my son if what I say isn’t true? He 
should know!” rumbled Black Buck. 

Young Black Buck was almost as quick as 
his father to see the chance of redeeming him- 
self in the eyes of the whole herd, and he 
shook his head with delight. His fear and 
trembling all left him. 

“Speak, Young Black Buck!” shouted his 
father. “Did White Tail interfere with you? 
Speak before it is too late!” 

Young Black Buck was ready with his 
answer. “Yes, he stood in my way,” he re- 
plied, “and when I reached the edge he bit 
at me, and tried to push me off the edge.” 

White Tail started in surprise and horror 
at this accusation, for he was too stunned to 
speak. Then, when he realized what the 
charge meant, he said: 

“You know I didn’t do that, Young Black 
Buck! If I hadn’t grabbed your antlers you 
would have fallen over and been crushed to 
death. Oh, how could you say such a thing!” 


Father Buck’s Decision 37 

^That’s a fine story to tell!” jeered Young 
Black Buck. “Who do you think will believe 
it! You wanted to kill me so you could have 
no challenger for the leadership. Well, I’m 
alive, and I’ll beat you to it yet.” 

Now the uproar on the other side was 
intense. Some believed that White Tail had 
actually tried to push his rival down the 
chasm, and others were equally certain that 
the son of Father Buck could never be guilty 
of such a crime. The commotion was ap- 
proaching the proportions of a riot when 
Father Buck brought silence with a roar of 
authority. 

“Be quiet!” he bellowed. “We must settle 
this dispute right. If my son was guilty of 
such a crime, I would be the first to disown 
him and drive him from the herd in disgrace. 
But if he is innocent, I will back him up with 
all my might.” 

He turned fiercely on Black Buck, as he 
said this, his eyes flashing and his antlers bob- 
bing threateningly. Black Buck was not 
anxious to get in a fight with the leader, and 
he backed away grumbling. 

“I will protect my son, too,” he breathed 
angrily, “if he is right.” 

“That is your duty,” roared Father Buck, 
“and it is your duty to denounce him if he’s 


38 


White Tail’s Adventures 


in the wrong. Will you do that also?’’ 

Black Buck made some inaudible reply, and 
backed still further away from the flashing 
eyes. 

^Who saw White Tail push Young Black 
Buck off the edge?” asked Father Buck, ad- 
dressing the crowd. 

A dozen or more voices answered in the 
affirmative. Without changing the expression 
of his face. Father Buck then added: “Who 
saw White Tail grab Young Black Buck, and 
try to save him from a fall?” 

An equal number of voices responded 
promptly. To make sure Father Buck 
counted them, and then counted those who 
had answered in favor of Young Black Buck. 
They were the same! Twenty yeas and 
twenty noes ! 

“That makes it hard for me to decide,” 
murmured Father Buck. “A tie is never a 
pleasant vote for a leader, for he must decide 
then one way or the other himself. In this 
case it’s doubly hard for me.” 

He stopped and looked at the herd, and 
then added: “You know me, and you know I 
would be the last to decide in favor of my 
son if I thought he was wrong. Therefore, 
in giving my decision, I know you will think 
I’m doing justice. Then I say to you that I 


Father Buck’s Decision 


39 


saw White Tail help Young Black Buck up 
the slope. Had it not been for his help one 
of our number would be down below there 
dead.” 

There was a silence, and a shudder passed 
through the whole herd. Father Buck’s de- 
cision did not affect them so much as the 
thought of what might have happened. They 
were glad that it had ended this way, with no 
bones broken. White Tail was exonerated in 
their eyes. 




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STORY V 


Young Black Buck's Challenge to A 
Race 

White Tail was so angry at Young Black 
Buck for accusing him falsely that for a 
moment after Father Buck’s decision, he 
couldn’t find his tongue to speak. He simply 
glared at Young Black Buck, and for the first 
time there came into his mind a desire to 
punish his accuser. He knew then that he 
would have to fight his antagonist some day, 
and the battle would be a long and hard one, 
with neither side giving any terms. 

When the excitement had quieted a little, 
he turned to Young Black Buck, and said: 
^^You know that you spoke falsely, and know- 
ing it your conscience should trouble you.” 

Young Black Buck grinned. ‘‘But nobody 
else knows it,” he replied. “Therefore my 
conscience don’t trouble me much.” 

“Some day,” added White Tail, “you will 
pay for this. We want no deceiver as the leader 
of the herd. I’ll battle you for the position.” 

41 


4s2 White Tail’s Adventures 

‘^Oh!” sneered the other. ‘^That’s a pretty 
speech, White Tail. But we can’t battle for 
the leadership until Father Buck has failed 
in the chase or hunt. He’s leader until then.” 

“But the day will come when it will be 
between you and me.” 

“And then,” replied Young Black Buck, 
airily, “I’ll see that you get the worst licking 
you ever had.” 

“No, I think it will be the other way.” 

White Tail crossed the chasm again and 
joined the herd. There were plenty to 
sympathize with him, and they expressed 
themselves frankly. But there were not lack- 
ing others who admired Young Black Buck, 
and felt that he had been unjustly accused. 

Mother Deer whispered in her son’s ears : 
“Never mind. White Tail. We have to learn 
to take such things in life unselfishly. Right 
always triumphs in the end. Don’t let it 
worry you.” 

“It doesn’t worry me. Mother Deer. But 
it makes me feel angry.” 

Further conversation was stopped by Father 
Buck announcing that the herd would go to 
the lower timberland to graze on the succulent 
grass that bordered Puma’s hunting ground. 
The grass was in the rich, tender stage, and 
the deer enjoyed it as a sort of luxury. The 


Black Buck’s Challenge to a Race 43 

fact that Puma had selected this spot as his 
special hunting ground could not keep the 
deer away, and Father Buck’s announcement 
was hailed with delight. 

“We must keep together,” he cautioned, 
“with the does and fawns inside, and the bucks 
outside, for Puma may be abroad, although 
he’s not to be feared so much in the day time. 
If he’s asleep in his lair we won’t disturb 
him.” 

The spice of danger added to the zest of 
the adventure. The grass always had a much 
sweeter taste and a richer flavor when it was 
gathered right under the nose of Puma. The 
young bucks kicked up their heels and ran 
ahead. While they were not anxious to draw 
Puma from his lair, they wanted to show to 
the fawns and does they were unafraid. 

“If Puma comes for me I’ll show him a 
clean pair of heels !” boasted one 

“And I,” said another, “will give him a 
race that he’ll never forget.” 

Little did they know of what they were 
boasting. Puma the Mountain Lion never 
laid any great claim to swift, long distance 
running. He knew he was no match for the 
fleet deer in this respect. 

But he had ways and tricks of his own. His 
favorite method was to hide among the thick 


44 


White Tail’s Adventures 


foliage of the trees, and when a buck or doe 
passed underneath to spring upon its back. 
Once caught in this way no deer had a chance 
to escape. All the speed in the world would 
not avail the poor creature then. 

Puma was a terrible hunter. At night 
time he roamed about the dark woods and 
scented out his sleeping prey, and with one 
blow from his great paw he could break the 
back of a buck or crush the skull of a smaller 
animal. He could climb a tree like a cat, 
and crouch flat in the bushes out of sight to 
spring up as swiftly as a deer leaping a chasm. 

All the older deer knew the ways of Puma, 
some from terrifying experiences, and others 
only from hearsay. Ever since Father Buck 
had been leader of the herd, they had avoided 
Puma, and not one had fallen a prey to his 
voracious appetite. Perhaps they didn’t fully 
appreciate this, for continued safety from 
danger often makes us think there is no real 
danger after all. 

So when he proposed leading the herd 
down to the succulent grass, bordering the 
woods where Puma hunted, he took great pre- 
caution to avoid any risk. Several of the 
older bucks were sent ahead scouting, and they 
returned at intervals to report. 


Black Buck’s Challenge to a Race 45 

Father Buck led them down to the broad, 
shallow stream that he and White Tail had 
crossed that day on their return from Puma’s 
hunting ground. But instead of wading down 
the river a short distance, the leader kept 
them wading until they had skirted the hunt- 
ing ground of Timber Wolf. He had almost 
as much fear of Timber as of Puma. 

They kept to the left bank of the stream, 
and then crossed a shallow ford where the 
grass and reeds grew in such dense masses. 
They began feeding at once, but not until 
bucks had been sent inland to scout for Puma. 
They returned to report that Puma was not 
abroad. They had crossed and re-crossed his 
old trails, but there was no fresh scent in the 
air. 

‘^He’s probably sleeping after a good night 
of hunting,” Black Buck remarked. “I don’t 
think there’s any danger.” 

But the leader was taking no chances. He 
posted scouts in the woods and on high rocks 
where they could watch, listen and smd!ff^ 
Then the rest of the herd enjoyed their feast 
of rich grass and reeds. They munched 
greedily at them, their eyes filled with happi- 
ness, and making as little noise as possible. 

Now Young Black Buck should have been 
satisfied to eat and enjoy himself with the rest 


46 White Tail’s Adventures 

but after he had filled his stomach he began 
to feel so much better that he trotted around 
from one group to another in the most restless 
manner. Seeing White Tail feeding alone, a 
sudden desire to get even with him for the 
morning’s work seized him. 

“Ho, White Tail !” he called. “I challenge 
you to a race. We’ll scare up Puma maybe, 
but that will give us a good chance to show 
him how little we are afraid of him.” 

“Is it wise to arouse him?” asked White 
Tail. 

“Wise!” sniffed Young Black Buck. “Must 
you ask that question whenever you want to 
do something? But if you’re afraid to race 
me through his hunting ground well and good. 
I’ll go alone.” 

“I’m not afraid,” replied White Tail, “and 
I will accept your challenge if the older ones 
say it is all right.” 

Young Black Buck reported the matter to 
the leaders, and after a consultation Father 
Buck announced: “We’re ready to go home, 
and if Puma is aroused we’ll flee. Perhaps 
it’s a good plan to give Young Black Buck 
and White Tail a chance to see Puma. They 
will be on the lookout for him, and when 
he appears they can run home. Yes, they 


Black Buck’s Challenge to a Race 47 

must learn some day to meet him, and it is 
well that it should be today.’’ 

With the consent of the leader of the herd 
the two young bucks started off into the lower 
woods to make a complete circuit of Puma’s 
hunting ground. It was a long, wild run, 
and they would need all their strength and 
powers. Father Buck started them off, and 
they disappeared in the woods like two arrows 
shot from a bow. What happened to them in 
the race will be told in the next story. 









STORY VI 


Downy the Woodpecker Brings Startling 
News 

Swift as the wind, and almost as silently, 
White Tail and Young Black Buck swept 
through the low timberland, skirting the edge 
of Puma’s hunting ground so they could cir- 
cuit it and return to the starting point. Like 
two good long-distance runners, neither made 
an effort to take the lead at first. 

It was to be a test of endurance rather than 
of short sprinting. Silently, side by side, they 
ran at first, leaping over fallen logs and trees 
in long graceful jumps, and spurting in sharp 
bursts of speed where the trail was broad and 
open. 

It was not until they had covered the first 
mile, that first one and then the other attempt- 
ed to take the lead. Young Black Buck shot 
ahead first, taking advantage of an open trail, 
but a moment later White Tail leaped over 
a clump of bushes and rushed ahead. Young 
49 


50 


>Vhite Tail’s Adventures 


Black Buck pushed in the lead again at the 
first opportunity. 

Neither took these short spurts seriously, 
for they indicated nothing. Not until they 
had covered the second mile did they begin to 
let out in real earnestness. Black Buck then, 
to see whether White Tail was beginning to 
show any strain, rushed ahead, and spread 
himself out in a long, steady lope. 

White Tail kept close behind him until his 
speed began to slacken, and then to show that 
he was still fresh and strong he dashed ahead 
and took the lead. Then followed another 
mile of hard running. Both bucks were be- 
ginning to perspire freely now, and the white 
lather showed on their flanks. 

But neither one was winded or anywhere 
near the end of their strength. White Tail 
felt that he could keep up the gait nearly all 
day. He felt singularly fresh and strong. 
They had made half the circuit before either 
could try to outdistance the other. 

The rest of the race would decide which 
was the champion. Either they had to run 
abreast of each other until the end, or one 
had to take the lead. Suddenly, to White 
Tail’s surprise. Young Black Buck slowed 
down, and said : 

^ We’re on even terms up to this point, 


Downy the Woodpecker Brings News 51 

White Tail. Suppose we rest awhile, and 
then go on. The woods are so beautiful here, 
and I want to see what kind of a place Puma 
lives in. He’s around here somewhere, I 
suppose.” 

“Yes, I came here one day with Father 
Buck, and he showed me where Puma was. I 
smelt him and heard him.” 

“How exciting!” exclaimed Young Black 
Buck. “I wonder if we’ll hear and smell him 
today. I want to know what he looks like.” 

“I’m not so interested in that,” laughed 
White Tail. “I don’t want to get so close to 
him that he can see me.” 

“No, but we might see him, and then steal 
silently away without being caught.” 

White Tail wasn’t so sure of that. He had 
a wholesome dread of Puma’s hunting powers. 

“We might stumble upon him and he see us 
first,” he added. “He’s very sly, and can hide 
so no one can see him.” 

“But we could smell him first.” 

“Not if we were on the wrong side of the 
wind. Have you noticed which way the wind 
is blowing?” 

“Why, yes, from the right.” 

“Then we don’t have to fear anything on 
that side. We must keep our eyes and ears 
open on the left.” 


52 


White Tail’s Adyentures 


^^It’s my opinion/’ said Young Black Buck 
slowly, ‘‘that Puma’s greatly over-rated. Why, 
he hasn’t killed one of the herd as long as 
any one can remember.” 

“No, but that’s because Father Buck has 
been such a wise leader.” 

Young Black Buck sniffed in scorn. “I 
don’t know that he’s been any better or wiser 
than other leaders,” was the retort. “If my 
father had been leader Puma or Timber Wolf 
wouldn’t have caught a deer. They wouldn’t 
have dared. They’re all afraid of him.” 

White Tail felt that this boasting wouldn’t 
get them anywhere, and would in the end lead 
to unpleasant words; but he knew that if 
Puma or Timber Wolf heard it they would 
laugh in glee. 

“If you’re rested suppose we go back,” 
White Tail said. “We’re going to make 
quicker time back. I’m going to run my best.” 

“And I too. I’m going to beat you. I’m 
sorry you got tired out, and had to rest. Well, 
I’m ready.” 

White Tail could afford a smile at this 
remark, for Young Black Buck had made 
the request to stop for a short time. Tired 
out! Why, he felt as fresh and strong as when 
they started. He would punish Young Black 


Downy the Woodpecker Brings News 53 

Buck by making his defeat as unpleasant as 
he could. 

But before either one could start for the 
return trip there was a noise among the leaves 
of the spruce tree under which they were 
standing, and with visions of Puma crouching 
among the branches ready to drop down upon 
them their hearts gave a great bound and 
almost stood still. In another moment they 
would have been of! like a shot, but there was 
a flutter of wings, and Downy the Wood- 
pecker, who had made the noise with his beak, 
spoke. 

^‘Hist! Listen!” he called. “Listen, White 
Tail — and you too. Young Black Buck!” 

Both of the runners stopped and looked up 
among the branches of the trees where Downy 
was sitting. 

“Puma is on your trail,” Downy added. 
“He caught your wind way back there, and 
he’s been trailing you ever since. I saw him, 
and hurried to tell you.” 

“Thank you. Downy,” replied White Tail. 
“It’s time we were off. He can never catch 
us if he’s behind.” 

“I didn’t say he was behind you,” replied 
Downy. “He was on your trail, but Puma’s 
too wise to follow you that way. You don’t 
know him. When he picked up your trail, he 


54 White Tail’s Adventures 

followed you by the wind. While you were 
running around in a circle, he’s been cutting 
across it. He’s between you and the herd.” 

“In that case,” said Young Black Buck in 
a frightened voice, “we’ll take a wide circuit, 
and he’ll miss us.” 

Again Downy shook his head. “You are 
young,” he said, “and don’t know how Puma 
hunts. He hunts with his mate, and she’ll be 
off to the right to head you off.” 

“Then what can we do?” asked Young 
Black Buck, his legs shaking and his voice 
trembling. 

“I really don’t know what to say. I came 
here to tell you of your danger. I can’t tell 
you what to do.” 

“Couldn’t we go back a little on our track, 
and then get around Puma and his mate?” 
asked White Tail, struggling hard to keep 
cool. 

“I’m afraid if you do that you’ll run into 
Timber Wolf and his family. Puma gave 
him the alarm, and he’s out with his whole 
pack to cut you off in that direction.” 

By this time Young Black Buck was so 
excited and frightened that he hardly knew 
what to do. To be cornered by Puma and 
Timber Wolf, with all the yelping pack, was 
a terrible thing, and there seemed no way of 


Downy the Woodpecker Brings News 55 

escape. A sudden rustling in the bushes made 
him jump nearly five feet away. Even White 
Tail leaped to one side. 

But it wasn’t Puma or Timber Wolf. It 
was Washer the Raccoon, and what Washer 
had to propose will appear in the next story. 
Washer was considered a very wise, shrewd 
animal, and perhaps he had a way for them 
to escape. 



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STORY VII 


A Race With Puma and Timber 

Washer the Raccoon poked his nose out of 
the bushes, and looked blinkingly at White 
Tail and Young Black Buck, while Downy 
the Woodpecker gazed down at all three with 
an expression in his eyes that plainly said: 
“Well, I’m glad IVe got wings, and can fly 
away if I want to.” 

“Goodness!” grunted White Tail. “You 
frightened the life out of us, Washer! We 
thought you were Puma or Timber creeping 
upon us.” 

“Well, IVe been mistaken for Groundy and 
Billy Mink, but never for Puma or Timber 
before,” replied Washer. “It must be that 
you’re excited or have a bad conscience. I 
wonder which it is.” 

“Not the latter, I hope,” answered White 
Tail. “But as for being excited, I think we 
have good reason for that. Downy just 
brought us word that Puma and Timber, with 
57 


58 White Tail’s Adventures 

their families are on our trail, and have us 
surrounded.” 

Washer sat up on his hind legs, and leaned 
against a tree. His shrewd, golden eyes 
flashed brightly in the sunshine, and his 
double row of white teeth glistened every 
time he opened his mouth. 

“If that’s the case,” he said, “I think it’s 
about time I took to my hole. I have no love 
or respect for Puma and Timber.” 

“Neither have we,” said Young Black 
Buck, “but we have no hole to run in. What 
are we going to do?” 

“If you only had wings I could answer 
that question,” interrupted Downy. “I know 
what I’d do.” 

“And if you had a hole you could crawl in, 
I could advise you,” added Washer. 

Of course, this brought no relief to either 
White Tail’s or Young Black Buck’s harassed 
minds. They weren’t interested in what 
Downy or Washer would do. They wanted 
to know what they could do to escape the 
terrible trap. 

Suddenly to make their situation more 
desperate, a distant howl rent the air. It was 
Timber Wolf calling to the pack. Almost 
instantly there was an answering cry on the 


A Race With Puma and Timber 59 

left, then another in front, and a third on 
the right. 

“It’s the pack’s hunting cry,” exclaimed 
Washer. “They’re calling to each other as 
they close in. Yes, they’ve picked up your 
scent. White Tail.” 

Young Black Buck got so frightened and 
excited that he leaped around in a circle, utter- 
ing plaintive little whimpers. “I’m going to 
run,” he said, “even if I do nothing but go 
around and around in circles. I can’t stand 
still.” 

“You’d better save your strength. Young 
Black Buck,” advised White Tail. “You may 
need all of it for the race, for it is clear to 
me that we must trust to our heels to beat 
them.” 

“What’s that?” exclaimed Young Black 
Buck, as a snarl in the distance alarmed them. 

“It’s Puma and his mate creeping up from 
this direction,” said White Tail more alarmed 
than ever. “With Puma and his mate in the 
rear, and Timber’s pack in front and on either 
side, what chance have we?” 

“Wait a minute!” exclaimed Washer 
quietly. “I think I can suggest a way. My 
hole is right on the edge of Black Ravine. I 
built it there so I could watch the sun rise 


60 


White Tail’s Adventures 


every morning. It’s a beautiful place, even 
if I do say so.” 

White Tail and Young Black Buck turned 
to him, and waited impatiently for him to 
proceed. Washer was aggravatingly slow. 
They were not a bit interested in the beautiful 
view he had from his hole. 

^‘Black Ravine drops down fifty feet, and 
if I should ever forget myself and fall over 
the edge it would be the last of me,” Washer 
continued, deliberately picking his teeth with 
a twig. ‘^Yes, I told Mrs. Washer several 
times it was a beautiful but dangerous spot 
to bring up our children. They might tumble 
into the ravine.” 

“Never mind the ravine. Washer,” inter- 
rupted White Tail. “You said you had a 
way for us to escape. Please tell us what 
it is.” 

“I was coming to that. You’re very im- 
patient, White Tail. And the ravine has a 
good deal to do with my plan. It’s twenty 
feet across from side to side. Can you jump 
twenty feet?” 

“Why, I don’t know, but maybe if — ” 

“All right then,” Washer interrupted. “I’ll 
show you the way to Black Ravine in front of 
my house. If Puma or Timber pursue you all 
you got to do is to leap across the ravine. 


A Race With Puma and Timber 61 

Timber couldn’t follow you, and I don’t think 
Puma can jump that far. If he couldn’t you’d 
have a big head start. Puma and Timber 
would have to go a mile down the ravine 
before they could cross. It’s wider in front 
of my house than at the ends.” 

Washer’s plan dawned upon their minds 
in an instant, and both bucks sprang up as if 
to start for Black Ravine at once. 

“We’ll do it!” exclaimed White Tail. “I’ll 
make the jump if I fall in the ravine. It’s 
better that way than to be pulled down by 
Puma or Timber.” 

“It’s much better not to fall at all,” was 
Washer’s quiet remark. “But now don’t get 
excited, or you’ll jump from the frying-pan 
into the fire. How do you know if one of 
Timber’s family isn’t watching the ravine? 
He may be.” 

This suggestion dashed their hopes, and 
sent the cold chills down their backs. No one 
could tell where the wolves and pumas were 
scattered. They were closing in upon them 
on all sides. They might surprise the cornered 
bucks before ever they could reach Black 
Ravine. 

“The only way I can suggest,” added 
Washer, “is for Downy to fly ahead, and re- 


62 


White Tail’s Adventures 


port to us where they’re hiding. You could 
do that, Downy, couldn’t you?” 

“Why, certainly. I’d be glad to.” 

“Then I wouldn’t waste any time.” 

Downy immediately flew away in the 
direction of Black Ravine, while White Tail 
and Young Black Buck waited impatiently 
for his return. It seemed a long, long time 
to them, and every few moments they could 
hear the call of Timber and his pack. They 
were drawing nearer and nearer until 
finally it seemed as if one was in the bushes 
not a dozen rods away. 

Downy came back finally, and said : 

“It’s all right, but you must hurry. They’re 
closing in so that if you don’t reach Black 
Ravine soon they’ll head you off. This way! 
Follow me!” 

He flew off to the right, but swift as he was 
White Tail and Young Buck were hardly a 
yard behind him. They fairly flew across 
the ground, leaping low bushes and trees in 
their flight. Washer, being much slower, 
decided not to follow. He knew another hole 
where he could hide until the danger was 
over. 

“Here they come!” screamed Downy sud- 
denly. “Now run for your lives! There’s 
Black Ravine ahead!” 


A Race With Puma and Timber 63 

At the same instant Timber and his pack 
broke cover, and started for the fleeing bucks 
in the open. Close on their right was Puma 
and his mate. They set up a yelping and 
howling that made the blood of the deer 
curdle. It had to be a short race, for other 
wolves ahead threatened to cut them off. 

But there was Black Ravine. Neither 
White Tail nor Young Black Buck knew how 
wide it was, or whether they could cross it, 
but when they reached the edge they shot out 
in one mighty leap and landed on the opposite 
side. Could Puma follow? In the next story 
you will find out what he did. 






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STORY VIII 


Mrs. Puma and Timber Fight 

The leap across Black Ravine carried 
White Tail and Young Black Buck away 
from the yapping jaws of Timber Wolf and 
his pack. Not one of them dared to follow. 
They could no more do it than fly. They 
stopped at the edge and howled woefully as 
they saw their prey escape. 

But not Puma the Mountain Lion. He 
was a wonderful jumper himself and the 
sight of the escaping bucks made him wild 
with rage. Besides, he was terribly hungry, 
and he was disappointed in not catching at 
least one of the bucks. 

When he came to the edge of the ravine 
he hesitated a minute, snarling, spitting and 
whisking his long tail. He jwas so angry 
that he knocked one of the wolves over when 
he got in his way. For a moment there was 
a savage outcry, and Timber threatened to 
pounce upon Puma’s back; but the fear of 
his powerful claws dissuaded him. 

65 


66 


White Tail’s Adventures 


^^Get away from the edge, you snarling, 
sniveling sons of cowards!” Puma growled. 
^When did a wolf ever bring down a buck in 
fair play? You howl and snap, and make a 
great fuss, but you’re cowards at heart! Let 
me show you what a Mountain Lion can do. 
Back! Back from the edge, I say!” 

The wolves obeyed, but not without much 
snapping of teeth and angry growls. Puma 
walked back a few paces, and turned to face 
the cliff. Then with a sudden run and spring 
he took the long leap. 

Ordinarily Puma would have hesitated a 
long time before attempting to jump across 
Black Ravine, but he was wild with anger 
and disappointment. Besides, he knew 
Timber and his pack were watching him, as 
well as his own mate. He was puffed up with 
pride to show what he could do. 

But, alas! pride had its downfall. Puma 
had miscalculated the distance. He realized 
this before he was half across, and to make 
up for it he began squirming and jerking in 
mid-air as if that would help him. It did in 
a way, for cat-like he had the wonderful 
facility of actually jumping and leaping 
forward with his feet off the ground. 

But it was of no avail. He still lacked suf- 
ficient force to carry him to the other side. 


•• ^ 






V* 1 


Twenty feet down, Puma saw a small stunted tree 



Mrs. Puma and Timber Fight 67 

He stretched one fore-paw far out, hoping to 
grasp the edge, and it did touch the rock, 
but it only scratched and scraped it. 

When he found himself falling downward, 
he thrust out the other fore-leg and clawed at 
the steep side of the cliff. But there was 
nothing for him to hold to. The rocks were 
so hard that his claws could get no purchase. 

Down he went another yard. The edge 
of the cliff was over his head, and fifty feet 
below was the hard bottom of the ravine. A 
fall there would surely dash out his brains and 
break every bone in his body. 

Twenty feet down, doubling, whirling and 
screaming. Puma saw a small stunted tree 
growing from a cleft in the side. He made 
one mighty lunge for this, and caught it. He 
landed with a thud against it, and clung to its 
branches for dear life. He was so shaken 
by the fall that for a moment he could do 
nothing but blink and gasp. The tree had 
scratched him in a dozen places, and the hard 
rocks bruised and hurt his body. One paw 
was bleeding, and the other was so sore that 
he held it up in the air. 

Over his head, some twenty feet, was the 
top of the cliff, with its sides so steep that no 
Puma could hope to crawl up them. Below 
was the bottom which seemed equally difficult 


68 


White Tail’s Adventures 


to reach. Opposite, looking down at him, 
were Timber and his family. 

‘What a lucky fall for you, Puma,” jeered 
Timber. “And what a poor jump! White 
Tail and Young Black Buck cleared it easily, 
and you couldn’t cross it! Now, braggart, 
what are you going to do to get out? You 
can hang there and rot before I’ll help you! 
Ho! Ho! You call my tribe cowards! Then 
I call you and yours dirty braggarts! You 
couldn’t — ” 

A rumbling growl at Timber’s left caused 
him to turn suddenly. Puma’s mate was fac- 
ing him, with her eyes spitting fire, and her 
great right claw raised to strike. 

“Son of a coward,” she thundered, “how 
dare you speak that way to one of my family! 
Puma may be caught down there, but you have 
me to reckon with !” 

Timber immediately saw his mistake. He 
had forgotten Mrs. Puma, who was almost 
as ferocious as Puma. She was smaller, but 
fully as quick and lithe. Timber’s manners 
immediately changed, and he became as meek 
and fawning as he was before threatening and 
defiant. 

“I didn’t refer to you, Mrs. Puma,” he 
whined. “Of course, I know you are much 
stronger and quicker than Puma, and — ” 


Mrs. Puma and Timber Fight 69 

*^You lie, you sniveling curl” interrupted 
Mrs. Puma. “For the tail of a deer I’d knock 
you in the ravine for my mate to eat for his 
supper.” 

Timber slinked back from the edge. He 
knew that one blow from that upraised paw 
would send him hurtling through space. But 
once back from the edge his manner changed 
again. Mrs. Puma stood near the edge now, 
and surrounding her was the half circle of 
wolves. All of Timber’s pack had arrived, 
and they were as thirsty as he for blood. They 
were ten to one. 

It flashed through Timber’s mind that this 
was a good time to settle an old score with 
Puma. He had never taken kindly to Puma’s 
lordly ways in dividing the hunting ground 
between them. Puma had always claimed 
more than his share of the prey. Sometimes 
he had eaten three quarters of a carcass, and 
only turned over a small portion to Timber’s 
family. 

And they were a hungry family, half starved 
at times when the hunting was poor. All his 
old grievances came back to him, and he felt 
that here was a chance to settle the dispute for 
good. Puma was caught in the ravine, where 
he might starve and die. Why not then push 
Mrs. Puma after him? 


70 White Tail’s Adventures 

^^Oh, Mrs. Puma,” he said, ^^you flatter me, 
My family aren’t such cowards as you think. 
Just to show you turn around and see them. 
They’re all here — the whole pack!” 

Mrs. Puma whirled about and saw the 
semi-circle of snarling, snapping wolves. Then 
for the first time in her life she felt afraid. 
She might kill two or three of Timber’s family 
before they conquered her, but eventually 
they would drive her over the cliff. But it 
was no time to show fear. That would be the 
signal for the wolves to close in on her. 

“I see them — the whole pack,” she snarled. 
^And every one of them a coward! Not one 
dare touch me unless the others push him 
within reach of my claws. See, the whole 
pack jumps and screams when I strike.” 

With a vicious drive of her paw she made 
those nearest leap back in fear. She followed 
this up with another drive. Timber saw that, 
unless he acted at once, his family would 
become panic-stricken. Raising himself on 
his hind feet ready for a spring, he opened his 
mouth, and uttered the hunting cry of the 
pack. Then at a given signal they attacked all 
at once. 

They darted forward with yelps of defiance. 
Timber leading. But what a surprise awaited 
them! Mrs. Puma had guessed their actions, 


Mrs. Puma and Timber Fight 71 

and with a mighty spring in the air she leaped 
clear over the backs of the encircling crowd. 
It was a wonderful spring, and nothing but 
fear could have made her do it. It landed 
her safely back of the wolves. 

Then before they could turn and charge 
again, she took another spring, and was safe 
in the branches of a tree. “Some other day, 
thou dog of a coward!” Mrs. Puma said. “I’ll 
sleep here until you get tired of waiting.” 

Having got Mrs. Puma out of trouble we 
will follow White Tail in the next story. 




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STORY IX 


Young Black Buck Has an Accident 

It is hard work to starve out Puma the 
Mountain Lion when treed, and perhaps 
harder yet to imprison him on the side of a 
steep cliff. Timber Wolf knew this, and after 
the escape of Mrs. Puma up the tree, he grew 
uneasy, and decided that it was safer for him 
to lead the pack back to their own hunting 
ground. 

When they had gone Mrs. Puma leaped 
down to the ground, and ran to the edge of 
the ravine to see what had become of her mate. 
She was not greatly surprised when she saw 
that he had slowly made his way to the bottom 
of the chasm, and was looking up to see where 
she was. With a little cry of joy she trotted 
down to the end of the ravine to rejoin him. 

Meanwhile, of course, White Tail and 
Young Black Buck were running like the 
wind, anxious to get as far away from their 
pursuers as they could. They didn’t know 
73 


74 


White Tail’s Adventures 


what had happened at Black Ravine, and they 
couldn’t stop to investigate. The fear that 
the wolves and Mountain Lions might still be 
on their trail kept them going until they were 
nearly exhausted. 

One mile, two miles, three miles they ran 
without stopping or looking around, fear lend- 
ing speed to their legs. Then something hap- 
pened which brought them to a sudden halt. 
Young Black Buck stumbled, and plunged 
headfirst to the ground. When he tried to 
get up again, he groaned with pain, and held 
a fore-leg in the air as if it hurt him. 

‘^Oh, I’ve broken my leg!” he cried. “I 
can’t run another step. They’ll catch me now, 
I know! I can’t escape them!” 

White Tail, whose momentum had carried 
him some distance ahead, stopped and turned 
around. 

‘‘Let me see it,” he said, sniffing at the leg. 
After quickly examining it, he added; “No, 
it isn’t broken — only sprained. Can’t you 
stand on it?” 

“No, not for an instant. Oh, what will be- 
come of me! Hark! Isn’t that Puma growl- 
ing?” 

“No,” replied White Tall, listening with his 
head flung back and his nose in the air. 

“Then it’s Timber calling, I’m sure it is.” 


Young Black Buck Has An Accident 75 

White Tail listened again. He was trem- 
bling himself, for the fright and exhausting 
run had made him very nervous. 

“It’s something, but I don’t think it’s 
Timber Wolf. He hasn’t had time to run 
around the end of Black Ravine.” 

“But he’ll be here soon,” whined Young 
Black Buck. 

“Then we must be going. We can’t stay 
here. You must run on three legs. You can 
do it.” 

“Not so fast as Timber Wolf or Puma can 
run on four legs. Oh, you won’t leave me. 
White Tail, will you? I shall die of fear if 
you do. I’ve always been your friend.” 

“I won’t leave you yet,” replied White 
Tail. “Lie down in the bushes, and I will 
run back and see if I can find Timber or 
Puma. If they’re coming — ” 

“Don’t leave me,” interrupted Young Black 
Buck. 

Just then, when White Tail was uncertain 
what to do, and so nervous that he couldn’t 
stand still, Downy the Woodpecker appeared. 
He fluttered in a tree just as if he had been 
there waiting for them all the time. 

“Oh, Downy,” cried White Tail, “where 
are they? Are they on our trail yet? Did 
they get across Black Ravine?” 


76 White Tail’s Adventures 

Downy finished hauling a grub out of its 
hole in the tree bark before he answered. 
^^No,” he then said, “they didn’t get across 
Black Ravine, but Puma got in it. And he’s 
there now, screaming with rage.” 

“He jumped and fell in it?” asked Young 
Black Buck. 

“Yes,” nodded Downy. “He tried to show 
Timber’s family what he could do, and he 
made a pretty sight of himself. He missed 
the opposite side by a few inches, and if it 
hadn’t been for a small tree growing on the 
rocks he would have fallen to the bottom, and 
been killed.” 

“I wish he had,” said Young Black Buck. 

“Well, he wasn’t,” added Downy, “so it’s 
no good wishing for what didn’t happen. 
He’ll roll down, and get on his feet again. 
It’s pretty hard to kill Puma.” 

“What did Timber and his pack do?” 
asked White Tail. 

“They did just what you might expect of 
them. They jeered and laughed at Puma, and 
then Mrs. Puma interfered.” 

“I thought that Timber and Puma were 
friends,” said White Tail. 

“Such selfish friendship as they had for 
each other doesn’t amount to much. It only 
takes a little for them to fall out and begin 


Young Black Buck Has An Accident 77 

fighting each other. And that’s just what 
happened. Timber thought it was a good 
time to attack Mrs. Puma, and his whole pack 
jumped at her.” 

“And what happened then?” breathlessly 
asked White Tail. 

“Mrs. Puma jumped too, and as she could 
jump faster and farther than Timber she got 
away and ran up a tree. There I left her, 
with the wolves howling underneath.” 

“I think then they’ll give up the chase,” 
remarked White Tail. “It’s very fortunate 
for us, for Young Black Buck has sprained 
his leg, and will have to limp the rest of the 
way.” 

“I can’t limp far on three legs,” whined 
Young Black Buck. “And we are far 
away from the herd, aren’t we. Downy?” 

“Yes, so many miles I can’t count them. 
You’ve been running away from where you 
started, and it will take you a long, long time 
to get home.” 

White Tail and Young Black Buck were 
greatly distressed by this information, for 
night was coming on, and to be caught after 
dark away from the herd in the heart of a 
strange woods was a most unpleasant outlook. 
White Tail might have made it by hard run- 
ning, but Young Black Buck could never do 


78 White Tail’s Adventures 

it, and White Tail wasn’t going to leave him 
alone in the woods. He was too loyal for 
that. 

‘There doesn’t seem to be any choice in 
the matter,” White Tail said. “We’ve got to 
stay here, and make the best of it.” 

“But you could get home alone. White 
Tail, if you started right away,” suggested 
Downy. “It will be moonlight early in the 
evening, and you can find your way once you 
reach the shallow stream.” 

“Yes, I know the way, but I couldn’t leave 
Young Black Buck behind. No, I couldn’t 
think of it. We’ll find a resting place among 
the bushes, and stay here until morning. Then 
maybe his leg will be better.” 

Downy nodded his head, and began pecking 
away at the bark of the tree for another grub. 
Young Black Buck looked thankfully at the 
speaker, but said nothing. 

“I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you soon,” 
Downy remarked after a while. “I’m a long 
distance from my home, and I don’t see that 
I can help you any by staying.” 

“No,” smiled White Tail, “except to give 
us warning of danger when it comes.” 

“There’s no danger now unless — ” 

He stopped and listened attentively. 

“Unless what. Downy?” 


Young Black Buck Has An Accident 79 

‘‘I don’t know that I should say it, for I 
don’t want to frighten you, but there are man 
hunters in this woods. They’ve pitched a 
camp a few miles back of here. But if they 
haven’t dogs with them they won’t find you. 
Just keep quiet here in the bushes until 
morning.” 

certainly will,” replied White Tail. 
‘T dread the man hunters as much as Puma 
and Timber, especially if they have dogs.” 

And all through the night, he thought and 
dreamt of the man hunters, but nothing hap- 
pened until morning, and then the distant 
baying of a dog startled him. 



STORY X 


White Tail's Magnanimous Act 

White Tail could not mistake the sound of 
the dogs in the distance. Neither could Young 
Black Buck, who was instantly on his feet 
The dread sound had more to do in curing the 
sprained foot than the night’s rest, and he 
followed White Tail, trotting around and 
sniffing the air in every direction. 

“Are they coming this way?” Young Black 
Buck asked. 

“It’s hard to tell,” replied White Tail. “I 
haven’t picked up their scent yet, but I don’t 
need to. I hear them.” 

“We must be going before they find us.” 

“Is your lame leg strong enough?” 

“Yes, it’s all right again — a little lame, but 
not much. Which way shall we go?” 

Unconsciously Young Black Buck had been 
depending upon White Tail ever since danger 
first threatened them, and this was a sure sign 
that he recognized qualities of leadership in 
81 


82 White Tail’s Adventures 

his rival that he did not possess. And White 
Tail had accepted it without giving it much 
thought. 

“I think,” he said finally, “they’re oft to the 
right where Downy said the white hunters 
had their camp. Then we should go to the 
left.” 

“But that will take us to the hunting 
grounds of Puma and Timber Wolf,” pro- 
tested Young Black Buck. 

“Yes, I know, but we can swing around 
north of them before we reach their woods. 
At any rate we can’t run right into danger.” 

White Tail took up the lead, and Young 
Black Buck followed. They stole away in 
the woods almost as silently as shadows. A 
well worn trail led into the darkest and 
thickest part of the forest, and as this kept 
going straight away from the man hunter’s 
camp they stuck close to it. 

“Maybe this is Puma’s trail,” Young Black 
Buck remarked after they had gone a con- 
siderable distance. “No deer have been this 
way.” 

“No, of course not. This isn’t our woods, 
but Puma hasn’t been here. I could smell 
him.” 

“Then Timber Wolf and his pack made it.” 

“No, it hasn’t Timber’s smell either.” 


White Tail’s Magnanimous Act 83 

White Tail had his nose close to the ground, 
and while he couldn’t quite make out whose 
trail it was he felt confident that it wasn’t that 
of either Puma or Timber. 

Still it is always dangerous to follow an 
unknown trail. It’s against the law of the 
herd for the leader to do so, and had White 
Tail known it he would have taken to the thick 
woods. But he thought he was doing right, 
for it was much easier to travel faster in this 
way. 

He was jogging along cautiously when the 
trail became suddenly very strong and fresh. 
He stopped and flung up his head. That 
animal odor that had caught his nose, startled 
him. 

But the sight which met his eyes startled 
him more than the strange odor. There stand- 
ing directly in the broad trail, grinning at 
them, was Buster the Bear. What a shock it 
gave him ! Buster seemed to tower up so big 
that he looked like a giant of a bear. 

With a snort of fear. White Tail turned and 
sprang out of the trail, clearing a clump of 
bushes in a beautiful jump, and calling to 
Young Black Buck to follow. The latter 
didn’t need this advice, for he was already 
out of the trail, running for dear life. 


84 


White Tail’s Adventures 


Now back in the broad trail, Buster, who 
had been nearly as much surprised as they, 
suddenly roared with glee, his fat sides shak- 
ing and wobbling. “Ho! Ho!” he laughed. 
“What a scare I gave them! And I didn’t 
open my mouth. I wonder what they’d done 
if I’d roared like this.” 

He let out a roar that shook the leaves off 
the bushes, and made White Tail and Young 
Black Buck run harder than ever. To them 
it seemed as if that roar was trying to catch 
them, and they couldn’t dodge its echo. 

But, of course, Buster wasn’t pursuing them. 
In the first place, he knew he couldn’t over- 
take them, and in the second he wasn’t partic- 
ularly hungry and rarely killed deer or bucks. 
He was too kind-hearted for that. But he 
did enjoy a joke, and he thought it was a huge 
one to scare them half out of their wits. 

White Tail and Young Black Buck ran 
without knowing which way they were going. 
In fact they might have run straight into the 
camp of the man hunters if they hadn’t been 
stopped by the sudden baying of the dogs. 

This time the dogs were so close that they 
couldn’t expect to throw them off their scent. 
In fact, one of them saw White Tail’s head, 
and immediately gave the signal. He rushed 


White Tail’s Magnanimous Act 85 


for them with wild yelps of delight, and two 
others followed him. 

The two bucks swung around in another 
direction, and ran pell-mell through the 
woods. The fear of the dogs made them for- 
get Buster. Indeed White Tail realized his 
mistake now. He knew that Buster could not 
overtake him in a race, but the dogs of the 
man hunters might. They would follow them 
night and day until exhaustion killed one or 
the other. 

‘We’re in for it now,” White Tail said to 
his companion, breathing hard. “The dogs 
are fresh, and we’re not. We must find a river 
to throw them off our scent.” 

But finding a river in a strange woods was 
not an easy thing to do. So far as they knew 
there was no river there. They were com- 
pletely turned around, and hardly knew 
which direction to take to reach home. 

Young Black Buck soon began to show signs 
of weariness, and his lame leg hurt him again. 
In vain White Tail urged him on, but he 
couldn’t run any faster. The dogs would 
certainly soon overtake him. 

Then White Tail did a magnanimous thing. 
He couldn’t bear to leave his companion be- 
hind to be pulled down by the dogs, while he 
escaped. No, no, that would never do for 


86 


White TaiFs Adventures 


one who some day expected to be leader of 
the herd ! 

“Young Black Buck,” he said, running 
along by the side of the panting creature, “you 
run straight on as hard as you can. I’m going 
to stop here until the dogs see me. Then I’ll 
lead them off to the left. So long as they 
can see me they’ll follow me and forget the 
scent. When I get them far enough away I’ll 
run faster, and get away from them. You un- 
derstand?” 

Young Black Buck nodded his head. He 
was too tired to reply in words. “Then go 
on! I’ll wait here until the dogs come up.” 

It was a risky thing to do, but White Tail 
felt that alone he could outrun the dogs. At 
any rate he was going to do that much for his 
companion. 

He didn’t have long to wait. The baying 
hounds soon appeared, and catching sight of 
White Tail they started for him with yelps 
of delight. White Tail sprang away in the 
bushes, but not so fast that the dogs lost sight 
of him. He noticed that all three were chas- 
ing him. Then, when some distance away 
from the fork in the trail, he increased his 
speed. 

In a very short time he was out of sight 
again, but the hounds were on his scent. They 


White Tail’s Magnanimous Act 87 

had lost Young Black Buck’s, and there was 
no chance of their picking it up again. 

Away on the wind White Tail flew. His 
tremendous strides carried him far in the 
lead. Mile after mile he covered, his proud 
head flung back, his nostrils distended. It 
was a killing pace, but the dogs held on be- 
hind. How long could he stand it? Another 
mile, and the pace began to tell on him. He 
was growing weary and exhausted. But the 
dogs were still coming ! 

When he began to fear he could not escape, 
it began to rain, falling gently at first, and 
then more heavily. 

In the next story you will read of how the 
rain helped him. 



STORY XI 


White Tail’s Adventure in the Camp 

The rain made White Tail’s difficulties 
worse, for the logs and stones were so slippery 
that he stumbled time and again, and to avoid 
a fall he had to slacken his pace. The dogs 
on the other hand, kept up their pace, as the 
slippery things did not seem to bother them, 
and they began to gain on the fleeing buck 
very rapidly. Their deep baying drew so 
near that White Tail became startled. 

But all this time the rain was planning to 
help the buck, although he did not know it at 
the time. He was feeling very uncomfort- 
able, as well as frightened. The steady down- 
pour soaked him to the skin, and the driving 
wind splashed the rain-drops in his eyes, half 
blinding him. 

When the dogs drew so near that White 
Tail felt they would soon see him, he turned 
abruptly around, and ran at right angles to 
his former course. He had not tried dodging 
before, but had kept on a straight course. 


90 White Tail’s Adventures 

To his surprise he heard the barking of the 
dogs grow suddenly fainter, and then very 
confused. The fact was the heavy downpour 
of rain had nearly blotted out his trail, and 
the dogs could not readily pick it up again. 
So long as he kept on in straight course, the 
dogs had followed him. 

But now, by dodging. White Tail found he 
could easily elude them, so faint was the scent 
he left behind. The rain washed that away, 
and completely baffled the dogs. 

It was a great blessing, for White Tail was 
badly winded. He was so tired that as soon 
as he left the dogs far in the rear he sought 
shelter from the rain. He was almost ex- 
hausted with his efforts, and a bed of leaves 
or grass would be the greatest blessing in the 
world. 

Directly ahead of him, he saw an old de- 
serted open camp standing in a partial clear- 
ing. It was built of pine logs, with the bark 
left on, and a roof and three sides. The front 
was left open, with an old camp-fire place of 
stones and rocks a few feet away. 

At first White Tail stopped and looked at 
the camp suspiciously. If the man hunters 
lived in it, he should avoid it as he would 
Puma or Timber, but if it were deserted 
there would be no harm in seeking shelter 


White Tail’s Adventure in the Camp 91 

under its roof. He watched, listened and 
sniffed for a long time before he dared ap- 
proach it. 

Then by degrees he walked closer until he 
had a chance to look inside. There was no 
one there, ^nd it had not been inhabited for a 
long, long time. White Tail could tell this 
by the absence of any odor. 

‘T think it’s safe,” he muttered after an- 
other close examination. ^T’ll spend the night 
here. I’m dreadfully tired, and so wet I’m 
cold and shivery.” 

He walked under the sheltering roof, and 
found a bed of sweet-smelling spruce boughs 
in one corner. They were perfectly dry, and 
White Tail gave a grunt of satisfaction. It 
was a dry shelter, with a soft, dry bed already 
prepared for him. He dropped down on it 
with a sigh of intense relief. 

It rained hard all night. White Tail could 
hear the floods of water pouring on the roof 
of his shelter, but under it the place was dry 
and warm. Darkness came early in the woods, 
and it was soon pitchy black. 

He felt perfectly safe if none of the night 
prowlers appeared. The rain, however, was 
a protection to him, for even Puma and Tim- 
ber rarely ventured forth in such a storm. 
They preferred to do their hunting on clear. 


92 


White Tail’s Adventures 


dry nights when the scent of their prey was 
clear and distinct. 

“I don’t think anybody will disturb me until 
morning,” White Tail said, “and I can rest 
here in peace.” 

But of course you can never tell what may 
happen in the wildwoods. Suppose Puma 
or Timber Wolf should be caught away from 
home in the rain! If they were, and saw the 
open camp, they would very naturally seek it 
for shelter just as White Tail had done. 

It was quite early in the evening when 
White Tail was awakened from slumber by a 
thump, thump outside. It came nearer and 
nearer. White Tail was so frightened that 
he could scarcely breathe. He trembled in 
every limb. Some animal was coming around 
the side of the open camp. 

Before White Tail could leap to his feet to 
run, a head was thrust around the corner, and 
a pair of wonderful eyes looked at him. At 
the same instant the owner of them caught 
sight of White Tail’s. 

“Hello, Bumper!” White Tail exclaimed, 
when he recognized Bumper the White Rab- 
bit. “Don’t be afraid. I’m White Tail the 
Deer.” 

“Well, I’m mighty glad of that,” replied 
Bumper, approaching. “You gave me an 


White Tail’s Adventure in the Camp 93 

awful start at first. I thought you were Mr. 
Fox or Sneaky the Wolf or Puma.’’ 

‘^And I thought you were Timber Wolf or 
the man hunters or their dogs.” 

‘‘Seeing that we were both wrong then,” 
said Bumper, “we might share this camp be- 
tween us. You have no objection, I hope.” 

“No^ I’m glad to have company. I’m 
dreadfully excited and alarmed.” 

Then he told the White Rabbit about his 
adventures, ending up with the pursuit by the 
dogs, and his escape to the deserted camp. 

“You certainly did have a hard time of it,” 
said Bumper when he had finished. “And 
you’re a long way from home. I do hope you 
can get back without accident. What’s that?” 

Bumper stopped, and White Tail raised his 
head in alarm. There was a scream outside, 
and then a wild commotion in the bushes. 
The next moment something came rushing in 
the camp, and flopped down right at White 
Tail’s feet. 

It was Rusty the Blackbird. “Help ! Help ! 
Oh, help me!” Rusty cried. “Great Horn the 
Owl is after me! Here he comes now!” 

And out of the darkness swept a shadowy 
figure that hardly made any noise; but the 
moment it saw White Tail it stopped and 
circled around his head. White Tail raised 


94 White Tail’s Adventures 

his head, and swung his big antlers threaten- 
ingly at Great Horn. 

“Look out,” he said, “or I’ll hit you I Don’t 
come any nearer, Great Horn !” 

“Is that you, White Tail?” asked Great 
Horn. “I didn’t know you were here. Well, 
I won’t disturb you. I’m after Rusty there 
at your feet. Let me have him, and I will 
leave at once.” 

“You will leave at once without Rusty,” 
replied White Tail. “He’s a friend of mine, 
and I’m going to protect him.” 

“Hoot! Hoot!” shouted the Owl in laughter. 
“I’ll take him whether you want me to or 
not.” 

He made a swift dive for poor Rusty, but 
White Tail’s big antlers swung around and 
knocked him over. One prong hurt Great 
Horn so that he flew back to a safe place. 

“If you come nearer. I’ll hurt you worse the 
next time,” warned White Tail. 

Great Horn sat there and considered for 
some time, his great eyes blinking and wink- 
ing. “What are you doing here. White Tail?” 
he asked finally. “Don’t you know you’re on 
Puma’s hunting grounds? Well, if you don’t 
know it you ought to. I think Puma might 
be interested in knowing it. Now give me 
Rusty at once or I’ll fly away, and tell Puma.” 


White Tail’s Adventure in the Camp 95 

This threat made Rusty tremble, and 
Bumper shiver in his corner where he was 
hiding under the boughs; but White Tail did 
neither. ^‘Go, and tell him, Great Horn,” he 
replied. “I won’t give up Rusty. I’ll pro- 
tect my friends.” 

And Great Horn flew away. What he did 
will appear in the next story. 


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STORY XII 


White Tail Escapes 

The moment Great Horn the Owl flew out 
of the open camp to tell Puma of White Tairs 
hiding place, Bumper hopped from his place 
in the corner, and Rusty jumped to a perch 
on one of the buck’s antlers. 

^‘Oh, dear,” began Rusty, “IVe brought 
trouble upon you. White Tail! Great Horn 
will guide Puma here. I wish now I’d never 
flown in here.” 

^^No, you don’t wish that. Rusty,” replied 
White Tail. ^Tf you hadn’t come here Great 
Horn would have killed you.” 

^‘And now Puma will kill you.” 

“Not if I can help it,” smiled White Tail. 
“He’s been on my trail before, and I shook 
him off.” 

Then he told Rusty of his adventures. 

“You’re wonderful. White Tail,” the Black- 
bird said when he had finished. “You saved 
Young Black Buck’s life, and nearly lost your 
97 


98 White Tail’s Adventures 

®wn. Now you’ve saved my life, and got 
yourself in more danger. I wish I could do 
something to help you in return.” 

^‘Probably you can, Rusty. Who knows? 
I’m terribly mixed up in these strange woods. 
I hardly know which way to go to find home. 
Perhaps you can direct me.” 

^‘Yes, I can do that easily.” 

“Thanks ! That’s one good turn you can do 
me. Now for another. Is there any river or 
stream near here that I can reach? If so I 
can go to it before Puma comes, and then wade 
down it to throw him off my scent.” 

“Why, yes, there’s a shallow brook only a 
mile from here. I can take you to that.” 

“Which way shall I go — up or down the 
brook?” 

“Go down it a couple of miles until it runs 
in the stream where Father Buck let the herd 
feed on the rushes this morning — the place 
you started from when you ran the race with 
Young Black Buck.” 

“In that case,” replied White Tail, “I think 
I’ll be going right away. I’m anxious to be 
off.” 

“But it’s a dreadful night outside. Hear it 
rain.” 

“Yes, but it would be more dreadful to stay 
here until Great Horn and Puma appeared. 


White Tail Escapes 


99 


Puma would kill me, and Great Horn would 
pounce upon you.” 

^^Yes, of course, we must go — right away, 
rain or no rain.” 

Bumper, who had been listening to the con- 
versation, hopped to the entrance, and then 
came back. ^‘If Pm any judge,” he said, ‘T 
don’t think you’ll have such a wet trip. That 
shower was the last. The clouds are breaking 
away, and the moon will soon be out.” 

White Tail was instantly on his feet, and 
beat Rusty to the front where the two of them 
gazed up at the rain clouds now growing thin 
and ragged in places. They saw a star twinkle 
in the east, and then another and another. The 
storm was, indeed, over, and the night trip 
through the woods would not be so disagree- 
able. 

“I must be off at once, Rusty,” White Tail 
said. “Puma may be back any minute.” 

“You can’t start any too soon to suit me. 
White Tail, for if Puma comes Great Horn 
will be with him. Come on! I’m ready.” 

“It seems to me,” remarked Bumper, “you 
don’t consider me at all. I’m not even invited 
to go with you.” 

“We thought you’d prefer to stay in this dry 
camp,” replied White Tail. “It’s very com- 


100 White Tail’s Adventure* 

fortable here, and you can hide under the 
spruce boughs.” 

The White Rabbit sniffed, “How long do 
you suppose it would take Puma to find me?” 
he asked. “When he found you’d gone, he’d 
eat me up instead. A rabbit makes only a 
mouthful for Puma, but it’s better than noth- 
ing. No, I’m going with you.” 

So the three started forth, leaving the 
shelter of the camp for the wet trail of the 
woods. And how wet everything was ! The 
trail was soaked with water, and every leaf 
and bough was dripping with moisture. 
Every bush they touched threw a shower of 
rain-drops all over them. 

Rusty led the way, hopping and flying from 
bush to bush, with Bumper following next, 
and White Tail bringing up the rear. 
Bumper was as familiar with the woods as 
Rusty, and White Tail really followed him, 
although at times the White Rabbit took short 
cuts through narrow paths which the buck 
could not tread. 

It was very quiet and solemn in the woods. 
After the rain the stillness seemed intensified 
by the occasional splatter of water, as some 
overladened tree branch dipped its load and 
let it fall to the ground. No birds or animals 


White Tail Escapes 


101 


were abroad, and they made half the distance 
without accident or alarm. 

Then back of them came a fearful roar that 
startled the echoes of the wildwoods. It was 
Puma the Mountain Lion. 

^‘He’s found weVe escaped!” cried Rusty. 
^^Oh, do hurry! He’ll pick up your trail, and 
Great Horn will find me. Hurry! Hurry!” 

‘Wait a minute!” exclaimed White Tail. 
“Can’t you find a hiding place, Rusty?” 

“Yes, many of them, but I must show you 
the way to the shallow brook.” 

“No, you tell me how to find it,” interrupted 
White Tail. “I can run much faster alone.” 

“It’s straight ahead. White Tail.” 

“Then find a hiding place in the bushes. 
Good-bye, and thank you !” 

“Are you going to leave me. White Tail?” 
asked Bumper. 

“Yes, Bumper, for you travel too slow for 
me. You must find a burrow, and run for it. 
There must be one around here.” 

“Yes, there’s a good one not far from here. 
But don’t you need me?” 

“No, Bumper, I can outrun you, and if you 
come along Puma may overtake me. Good- 
bye, and thank you! I’m off now.” 

Bumper waited until White Tail was out of 
sight and hearing. Then he sought a safe 


102 White Tail’s Adventures 

burrow, and stood at the entrance to watch 
and listen. Pretty soon he heard a crash in 
the bushes, as Puma came dashing along. 
Close behind him was Great Horn the Owl, 
flitting from tree to tree. 

“I wonder where Rusty is,” Great Horn 
was saying. ‘T don’t see him anywhere.” 

“Neither do I see White Tail,” roared back 
Puma, “but I smell him. I’m on the right 
trail.” 

“I wish I could smell Rusty. My eyes are 
good, but my nose isn’t as sharp as yours, 
Puma.” 

“I don’t care where Rusty is,” was the re- 
ply. “I want White Tail, and I’m going to 
catch him this time. He can’t escape as he 
did before.” 

They swept past Bumper, and made their 
way down the trail. The White Rabbit 
sighed, and said: “I do hope White Tail will 
escape.” 

And White Tail hoped so too. Meanwhile, 
he was running with all his might. As soon 
as he had left his two friends, he leaped 
through the bu&hes or over them, with his 
head aimed straight for the brook. He heard 
the roar of Puma behind him, and this spurred 
him on to greater speed. 


103 


White Tail Escapes 

When he finally reached the shallow brook, 
he waded in and rapidly followed it down to- 
ward its mouth where it joined the wider 
stream. When Puma reached the brook he 
was baffled. The scent he had been following 
suddenly stopped. 

“Which way has he gone?” he growled. 
“Up or down? I’ll go up, Great Horn, and 
you go down. If you see him hoot to me, and 
I’ll come.” 

Puma crossed the stream and ran up it on 
the opposite side, and Great Horn flitted down 
it. Of course, Great Horn found Whit-e Tail, 
but what happened then will appear next 


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STORY XIII 


White Tail Hears Unpleasant News 

Great Horn found White Tail a long way 
down the stream, but by that time morning 
was dawning, and the light began to hurt the 
Owl’s eyes. He caught a glimpse of some- 
thing moving through the bushes, and flew 
toward it, for he could not in the early light 
see very far. 

^‘Ah! I’ve found you. White Tail!” he 
cried. ‘T knew it was you.” 

“How did you know it. Great Horn?” asked 
White Tail. “I know you can’t see very well 
in this light. I don’t believe you can see me 
yet. You only hear me.” 

“The ideal” snapped Great Horn. “I can 
see you as well as you can see me.” 

“I don’t believe it,” replied White Tail. 
“Can you see Rusty sitting on the end of my 
antlers?” 

“Rusty! Rusty! Is he there?” exclaimed 
Great Horn excitedly. Now the thought of 
105 


106 White Tail’s Adventures 

being so near to his prey made him very hun- 
gry, and he flew straight at White Tail’s head. 
This was what the buck wanted, and when 
the Owl was close enough he swung his ant- 
lers around swiftly and caught Great Horn 
on the end. The blow was enough to knock 
the breath out of the bird, and he fell with a 
plump in the bushes. 

“That’s for betraying me to Puma,” White 
Tail said. “Now call to him when you can 
get back your breath. I’m off.” 

And through the bushes he ran, leaving 
Great Horn so surprised and stunned that he 
couldn’t call to Puma for a long time. White 
Tail had made good his escape. 

A few yards through the woods he came 
upon the other stream, the broad river which 
he knew so well. He crossed this, and made 
his way up the other embankment. Then, 
with the woods before him familiar to his eyes 
and nose, he ran rapidly toward home. He 
had made his way out of Puma’s hunting and 
through the higher timberland to his home. 

His appearance was hailed with delight by 
all his friends. “Oh, White Tail, we thought 
you were dead !” exclaimed one. 

“Dead! Huh! Why should you think 
that?” he sniffed. 



“That’s for betraying me to Puma,” White Tail said 





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White Tail Hears Unpleasant News 107 

“Young Black Buck said you were. He 
left you, and he was sure the dogs would catch 
you. He was sorry for you, but you couldn’t 
keep up with him, and he didn’t want to die 
because you couldn’t run as fast as he.” 

“What!” exclaimed White Tail. “Has 
Young Black Buck returned? And did he 
tell such a tale?” 

“Why, yes, that’s what he said.” 

With a roar of rage at this falsehood. White 
Tail pushed his way into the middle of the 
herd, and stood face to face before Young 
Black Buck. 

“You have been spreading more false stories 
about me. Young Black Buck!” he said. “After 
the way I saved you from the dogs, you lie 
about me !” 

Young Black Buck stood all atremble at the 
sight of White Tail. He had truly believed 
that the dogs would catch him, and he thought 
there would be no harm in telling a story of 
his escape that would hurt White Tail and 
help himself. 

“Listen!” White Tail added, swinging 
around and facing the herd. “Listen to a 
story of treachery. Young Black Buck has lied 
to you, and you must hear me. When he 
stumbled and sprained his leg, I stayed with 
him until it healed. Then when the man 


108 White Tail’s Adventures 

hunters started the dogs on our trail, we ran 
together until Young Black Buck’s weak leg 
crippled him again. The dogs would have 
caught him, but I waited for them, and when 
they saw me I led them off on my trail. Young 
Black Buck escaped while I led the dogs a 
merry chase. I saved his life, and he rewards 
me for it by lies — nothing but lies !” 

The commotion that followed these words 
was great, and the herd gazed from one 
speaker to the other. 

‘T challenge you to deny it!” continued 
White Tail, facing Young Black Buck. “See 
he cannot deny it! He knows it to be the 
truth !” 

Young Black Buck, indeed, looked guilty. 
His limbs were trembling, and his head 
drooping. For once he had no ready story 
to explain his lies. 

“To punish you for it. Young Black Buck, 
I challenge you to a fight!” went on White 
Tail, now so enraged that he wanted to punish 
his rival. 

It was then that Black Buck interfered. 

“Cease your quarreling over such petty 
things,” he said. “There are greater things 
for the herd to consider than this.” 

“What can be greater than a question of 
honor?” interrupted White Tail boldly. 


White Tail Hears Unpleasant News 109 

^^Your son has spread falsehoods about me, 
and I challenge him to prove it by fighting.’^ 

“And I tell you to cease your quarreling,” 
added Black Buck. “You may need your 
strength for a different kind of challenge. 
Know you not what has happened?” 

White Tail looked mystified. Suddenly it 
occurred to him that he hadn’t seen Father 
Buck or Mother Deer. They hadn’t come 
forth to greet him. Had anything serious 
happened to them? 

“No, I don’t know what has happened,” 
White Tail admitted. “I have been away, 
and know nothing.” 

“Then listen!” replied Black Buck. “Our 
leader has failed. He stumbled in the chase, 
and missed his footing. When we crossed 
the brook he failed to clear it. He is no 
longer our leader. He’s old and broken. 
Tomorrow we meet at the Council Tree to 
choose a new leader.” 

White Tail stood dumbfounded. Father 
Buck had been disgraced 1 He had fallen and 
missed his footing! He had failed to cross 
the brook in a single jump! He was to be 
deposed as leader! 

It seemed incredible, and White Tail was 
on the point of saying so when he remembered 
the words of Father Buck, and his predictioa 


110 


White Tail’s Adventures 


that some day he would fail through old age 
and weakness. The thing had happened then 
in his absence. White Tail was glad of that, 
for it would have been hard for him to wit- 
ness the leader’s downfall. 

Without another word to Black Buck, he 
whirled around to hunt up Father Buck and 
Mother Deer. He wanted the truth from 
their lips, and not from one who found pleas- 
ure in it. The sneer in Black Buck’s words 
angered him. 

He found the two quietly resting under a 
tree back of the herd, a little to one side as if 
they had already been cast out and ignored by 
those who had so recently looked up to them. 
Mother Deer rose and ran to greet her son. 

‘Tt is well. White Tail, that you’ve come 
back at this time,” she said quietly. “You 
have heard the news?” 

“Yes, I’ve heard it. It is true then — that 
— that — ” 

“Yes, my son,” interrupted Father Buck, 
“I have led my last chase. Never again will 
the herd follow me. What must come to all 
of us at some time has befallen me. There is 
nothing to regret. One and all must face it 
sooner or later. Why should we not accept it 
complacently?” 


White Tail Hears Unpleasant News 111 

White Tail was surprised, and yet pleased, 
by the quiet acceptance Father Buck took of 
his downfall. It softened the load that he was 
carrying in his own heart. 

‘T prepared you for it, you remember 
White Tail,” the old leader continued. ‘Well, 
tomorrow they will choose a new leader. 
They will demand that I step aside. But until 
then Fm leader, and no one shall dispute that 
right.” 

He rose and shook his huge antlered head, 
looking for all the world like a leader, and 
when he bellowed an order every one started. 
He was not yet deposed. In the next story 
what happened at the Council Tree will be 
told. 
























STORY XIV 


Choosing A New Leader 

The call for a meeting at the Council Tree 
was issued to the herd by Father Buck himself. 
It was his duty to do this, for the law of the 
herd is that a leader is still in command, and 
his word must be obeyed, until he has been 
deposed and another chosen. 

White Tail had been twice at the Council 
Tree before, but never on such a momentous 
occasion as this. His own initiation into the 
secrets of the council was nothing compared 
to the choosing of a new leader. He felt the 
weight of responsibility that was laid upon 
him, for the time had come for him to succeed 
his father or fail forever. 

The choosing of a leader did not happen 
often. Once in a life time was the average. 
Unless something happened to a leader to cut 
him down accidentally in the prime of his life, 
or Puma or Timber pulled him down in the 
chase, no successor was chosen until he grew 
too weak and decrepit to lead. The event 
was, therefore, an important one, and long to 
113 


114 


White Tail’s Adventures 


be remembered by those who took part in it. 

Father Buck had led the herd for so many 
seasons that none but the older ones could re- 
member when he was not their leader. In all 
those days and seasons he had been shrewd, 
wise and courageous so that few accidents 
had happened to any of the deer. His had 
been the most successful leadership that any 
could recall. 

When they assembled at the Council Tree, 
Father Buck was there ahead of them, stand- 
ing lonely and aloof in the place of honor 
under the big tree. His lordly head, with its 
great spread of antlers, was held high, so that 
some of those who had come to scoff and laugh 
at him felt a sudden awe. There was none of 
the meekness and humility of a fallen leader 
in his attitude. 

Black Buck and the other older bucks, who 
had long years before contended with Father 
Buck for leadership, were impressed by his 
looks, and they took their places in the semi- 
circle in uneasy silence. Suppose Father 
Buck should challenge again for leadership 
despite his failure of the previous day! Could 
any of them win in a mighty battle with him? 
They, too, were growing old, and their limbs 
and eyes were not as strong and sure as when 
they were young. 


115 


Choosing a New Leader 

^‘You know the law of the herd, and of 
my people,” Father Buck announced when all 
the deer were there. ^Testerday I failed you. 
It was the first time since I became your 
leader. Now the call is for a new leader 
unless I challenge for it again, and win it by 
my might.” 

He swung his antlered head around at the 
half circle of older bucks. There was a men- 
ace and challenge in the beautiful eyes. 

‘We want a new leader!” bellowed Black 
Buck angrily. “You can’t lead us again, 
Father Buck! You have failed in the chase. 
Twice you failed within a day. A new leader 
is what we demand !” 

There was a chorus of approvals, and Black 
Buck gained courage by the backing his words 
received, but Father Buck cut him off short. 

“Be silent!” he said. “I am still leader, 
and my word is law! If I choose to challenge 
again, the right is mine. It is the law of the 
herd. Who speaks otherwise?” 

There was no disputing this. The law of 
the herd was very simple, and it had to be 
obeyed. Even Black Buck knew this, and if 
he chose Father Buck could challenge and 
prove his right to remain leader if he proved 
himself better than all others. 


116 


White Tail’s Adventures 


“If you challenge again,” began Black 
Buck, “you must do battle with the young 
bucks as well as the others. That’s the law 
isn’t it?” 

“It is!” replied Father Buck. “Young and 
old may meet the challenger. But I first issue 
my challenge to the older ones. That is my 
right. I may be old and weak, my eyes may 
be growing dim, and my legs less active and 
sure; but I am still leader, and I issue the 
first challenge. All you bucks more than 
three seasons old step forth! It is to you I 
issue this challenge. Come and accept it. I 
will fight for the leadership!” 

An uneasy thrill swept the multitude. Each 
turned to look the other in the eye. Who 
would accept Father Buck’s challenge? Black 
Buck hesitated, measuring the sturdy limbs of 
the leader with his own, and comparing the 
thick-set neck and head of antlers with those 
of his immediate neighbors. There was not 
one qualified to enter the lists and hope to 
carry off the honors. 

“I hear no one!” shouted Father Buck. 
“The challenge is not accepted. So be it! 
Then we come to the second challenge. Here, 
too, the law gives me the right to fight with 
the younger bucks for leadership. We have 
many of them — young, sturdy, bright-eyed 


Choosing a New Leader 


117 


offsprings of ours who will some day win hon- 
ors in the chase. They have eyes as keen as 
ours were at one time; limbs as straight and 
strong; minds as active and intelligent. We 
have taught them the ways of the woods, and 
they come to the Council Tree today to prove 
their rights.” 

He stopped and gazed around at the big 
assembly. His words and commanding figure 
had made even Father Buck’s worst enemies 
respectful. The outcome of the meeting was 
still uncertain and wrapped in mystery. 

‘^Therefore,” the leader continued after a 
pause, ^‘it is for them to decide the leadership. 
I have no wish to challenge them. I could 
not conquer them if I chose. It shall be as 
they decide. Who of the younger ones chal- 
lenges for the high honor of leader to take 
my place?” 

A thrill of excitement passed around, for 
the crucial moment had now arrived. Father 
Buck did not intend to fight to retain the lead- 
ership. There was an instant pause in which 
you could have heard a twig snap, and then 
Young Black Buck, with head held high, 
stepped to the center of the semi-circle. He 
trotted gracefully around several times, and 
then halted before Father Buck. 


118 


White Tail’s Adventures 


“I, Young Black Buck, son of Black Buck 
of Dismal Swamp, challenge for the leader- 
ship ! I shall prove my right to it by the one 
test that is required by the law of the herd — a 
battle with all comers !” 

^^It is well, Young Black Buck!” replied 
Father Buck, looking at the haughty eyes of 
the challenger. ‘‘You have been the first to 
challenge. Is there any other?” 

The aged leader turned his head just a little 
so that his eyes could rest upon White Tail, 
but it did not need this look to inspire his son. 
White Tail had already started forward, and 
with no less pride and dignity than Young 
Black Buck he trotted into the center of the 
clearing. 

“I, White Tail, son of your great leader 
and of Mother Deer, accept the challenge. 
As I have proved greater than Young Black 
Buck in the chase, in the long jump, and in 
other ways, I shall prove to you in combat 
that I am better fitted to lead the herd than 
he.” 

The excitement reached a climax when 
White Tail had finished his challenge, but 
Father Buck raised his head again to speak. 

“Who next challenges! The law of the 
herd permits any one under three seasons. 
Who speaks?” 


Choosing a New Leader 


119 


There was no answer, and no one stepped 
forward. The aged leader cast his eyes slowly 
around the crowd to make sure he had missed 
none, and then returned to the two challengers. 

‘^So be it!” he said. “The leadership shall 
be settled between these two — White Tail 
and Young Black Buck. The herd must ac- 
c^ept the victor as their leader.” 

In the next story will come the combat 



STORY XV 


The Great Combat 

Now the law of the herd says that the chal- 
lengers for leadership shall fight until one or 
the other is victor. If it takes hours or days 
or weeks it must continue until one is beaten 
and can no longer fight. The rules are sim- 
ple. He must prove himself the victor by 
strength, cunning, intelligence, trickery or any 
other way. The leader must be supreme so 
that none again dare challenge his authority. 

It is always a battle royal in the woods. It 
never ends in a draw, except in those few sad 
but rare cases when horns and antlers get inter- 
locked, and neither can pull away until both 
starve. Then a new challenge must be is- 
sued, and another leader chosen. Of this, both 
White Tail and Young Black Buck knew, and 
above all they sought to keep their horns and 
antlers from becoming interlocked. It availed 
the victor little to conquer if he starved with 
the vanquished. 


121 


122 


White Tail’s Adventures 


When they sprang toward each other with 
lowered heads, they kept a wary eye out for 
the other’s twisted antlers. It was a light 
charge at first, a mere test of skill and strength ; 
but their heads came together with a shock 
that sounded throughout the woods. 

Then they withdrew, and trotted around 
each other, waiting for a favorable opening. 
Both knew that one blow against the side or 
limbs of the other would cripple his antag- 
onist so the fight would be short. After cir- 
cling White Tail three times. Young Black 
Buck launched his head straight for the flanks 
of his enemy, and for a moment it looked as 
if he would gain a great advantage ; but at the 
critical instant White Tail turned and met the 
charge head-on. The clash of antlers was ter- 
rific but neither went down. 

Next they butted in short, sharp swings of 
the head, slashing, cutting and pounding with 
all their might. It was like a close-in spar- 
ring match between two skilled boxers, each 
waiting for an opening to deliver a fatal blow. 
But both were as swift in defense as in offense. 

They withdrew from the conflict, and trot- 
ted around each other once more. This time 
White Tail led the attack. Rearing on his 
hind legs, he brought all the weight of his 
body in a downward blow that made Young 


The Great Combat 


123 


Black Buck shake and tremble. For a mo- 
ment neither could recover from the terrible 
shock, so swift and powerful had the blow 
been. A thrill of excitement went through 
the assembled herd. 

“Well done!” exclaimed Father Buck. 

“But not better than my son can do 1” echoed 
Black Buck. 

To prove the truth of his father’s words, 
Young Black Buck turned a complete circle, 
suddenly reared, and brought his head down 
in another terrific blow. White Tail received 
it, and for a time their horns and antlers be- 
came locked. They pulled and jerked, 
pushed and twisted all over the open space to 
free their heads. With a sudden snap, the 
antlers loosened, and they were free once 
more. 

The battle grew more vigorous now that 
the two combatants were warmed to the fray. 
They began to put more speed in their mo- 
tions, and more force in their blows. Confi- 
dent that neither one could take advantage of 
the other, they fell back to hard hitting. In 
this strength counted, and it was soon seen 
that they were pretty evenly matched. Again 
and again they received and administered pun- 
ishment. 


124 


White Tail’s Adventures 


It may have seemed cruel to one not ac- 
quainted with the laws of the wild deer, but 
not so to the spectators nor to the fighters. The 
leadership had to be decided in this manner, 
and either combatant had the right to stop it 
by yielding to the other. But neither White 
Tail nor Young Black Buck had any intention 
of doing this. 

The blood of the older ones was warmed by 
the sight Father Buck recalled the day when 
he fought Black Buck for leadership, and he 
was proud of his son now fighting over again 
his own battles. Even Mother Deer, tender- 
hearted as she was, admired and applauded 
White Tail. She knew the battle once decided 
in his favor would never have to be repeated. 

White Tail suddenly delivered a crushing 
blow upon his enemy’s head that brought him 
to his knees. For an instant every one held 
his breath, but before White Tail could take 
advantage of it with another blow he slipped 
and nearly fell to his own knees. Young 
Black Buck was up in an instant, and made a 
wild rush for his adversary. White Tail was 
prepared, and received it steadily. 

The combat continued for an hour, two 
hours, three hours, until the flanks of both 
were covered with foam. And still they 
butted and bucked, and fought with all their 


The Great Combat 


125 


might! Their breath was coming in short 
gasps, and their eyes flashing defiance. 

All that morning the fight continued, with 
slight intervals for rest. Then they returned 
to it, each more determined than ever to defeat 
his rival. Young Black Buck soon showed 
signs of weakening, and his father noticing it, 
called out: 

“Let them rest until another day! They 
have done enough today !^^ 

“No! no!” shouted a dozen voices. 

“The combat must go on!” replied Father 
Buck. “Not until they both ask for a rest 
can it stop.” 

It was renewed with greater vigor. Grow- 
ing weak by the strain, they fell more often to 
their knees. The crashing of horns in mighty 
blows could no longer be resisted so easily. 
They were longer in recovering from the 
blows, and slower in getting to their feet. 

“Shall we put it off until another day?” 
asked Young Black Buck suddenly to his rival. 

“No, it shall be settled today,” replied 
White Tail, breathing hard. “I can fight for 
weeks yet. I remember your lies about me. 
Young Black Buck. I recall your treachery 
in the woods! I think of how you lost me in 
Dismal Swamp so I might be disgraced ! And 


126 White Tail’s Adventures 

now you shall be punished for them! I shall 
fight you until you can’t get up again 1” 

“That will never happen, White Tail ! You 
can never do that!” 

But this boast was hard to make good. 
Young Black Buck was showing weariness. 
Again and again he stumbled and fell to his 
knees. And each time White Tail sprang at 
him and delivered a series of mighty blows 
with his head. 

Once Young Black Buck failed to get quick- 
ly back to his feet, and White Tail rushed 
him. With all the speed and power he could 
summon he delivered a crushing blow, and 
knocked his rival down until all four legs were 
doubled up under him. 

White Tail stood over him. “Call me 
leader!” he snorted. 

“Never!” grunted Young Black Buck, an-d 
tried to rise. White Tail knocked him flat 
again before he could rise. 

“Call me leader!” he challenged again. 

“Never!” came a fainter cry. 

Again White Tail flattened him out, and 
issued the challenge the third time, and once 
more Black Buck refused. 

Four times White Tail flattened him on the 
ground, and the fifth time Young Black Buck 
could not rise. 


The Great Combat 


127 


“Call me leader!’’ 

There was no response. Young Black Buck 
was too weak to answer. White Tail stood 
over him. Three times Young Black Buck 
tried to rise, but fell back. He was too weak 
to respond to the challenge or to get to his 
feet. The battle was over! White Tail was 
victor! 

“Who challenges my leadership now!” 
White Tail bellowed, glaring around. And 
none replied! Their very silence made him 
their choice. In the next story White Tail 
succeeds his father and becomes leader of the 
herd. 



STORY XVI 


White Tail Made Leader of the Herd 

By defeating Young Black Buck in combat, 
White Tail was, according to the law of the 
herd, chosen leader until another should grow 
up and displace him. The decision on the 
battlefield could not be changed or altered. 
Even Black Buck and his son recognized this, 
and without protest they permitted Father 
Buck to complete the ceremony. 

‘‘The law of the herd has been vindicated,” 
he said, after White Tail had trotted around 
the vast circle, and challenged in vain any 
other antagonist. “White Tail shall hence- 
forth be your leader. To him obedience shall 
be given, and any who refuses shall be driven 
into exile. If there is any opposition it must 
be stated now.” 

Black Buck’s wicked eyes flashed angrily. 
He was doubly disappointed that his son had 
failed, for his own defeat years before came 
back to torment him. Young Black Buck was 
129 


130 


White Tail’s Adventures 


too exhausted to speak, and if there was any 
protest it had to come from his father. 

^^Young Black Buck have you anything to 
say?” continued Father Buck, turning to the 
defeated. 

Young Black Buck shook his head wearily. 
There was no fight left in him. 

^^You promise to obey the new leader?” 

Again the weary shaking of the head, fol- 
lowed by a sign as the vanquished dropped 
down and closed his eyes. 

“And you, Black Buck of Dismal Swamp?” 

“I will follow and obey the leader, as I fol- 
lowed and obeyed you. Father Buck,” was the 
answer. “There is nothing else for me to do. 
I submit to the law.” 

Father Buck turned to White Tail, whose 
distended nostrils and flashing eyes indicated 
that he was still ready to fight for his honor. 
The eyes of father and son met an instant in 
an exchange of pride and happiness. 

“It is well then,” continued the ex-leader. 
“White Tail shall henceforth be the head of 
the herd. I go back to my place among the 
older bucks to follow.” 

A certain wistfulness crept into his voice 
and eyes. It was hard to yield the proud po- 
sition, to hand over the burdens and glory of 
leader to another. None could do it without 


White Tail Made Leader of Herd 131 


a certain amount of regret — not even though 
the successor was his own son. 

“I have led you many, many seasons,” con- 
tinued Father Buck, “and always with success. 
Puma and Timber have never raided the herd 
in my time. We have foiled and deceived 
them, finding new pasture fields where they 
could not come. We have been safe from 
Loup the Lynx and Sneaky the Gray Wolf. 
I have fought them both, holding them at bay 
with my mighty horns, and once I remember 
it was a hard fought, desperate battle with 
Sneaky. But before he could call his pack 
the herd had escaped, and I fled from him on 
the wind.” 

He paused a moment, swinging his head 
proudly from side to side. “And our pasture 
fields have always been rich and sufficient,” 
he continued. “I have led you where the food 
was plentiful even in the depths of the winter. 
In snow and rain we have fared well. Our 
fawns and does have been safe. Not one has 
been lost through bad leadership. We have 
multiplied and grown strong. Today we 
stand first among the great herds of the timber- 
land. May we continue to grow and thrive 
under our new leader.” 

With his farewell address finished. Father 
Buck stepped from under the Council Tree, 


132 


White Tail’s Adventures 


and White Tail, knowing that he was expected 
to assume control, trotted up to take his place. 
Some noticed that, as he passed Father Buck, 
he was taller and stronger in limb than the 
ex-leader. The tips of his antlers towered a 
full foot higher than those of Father Buck. 
Even his enemies noticed this, and were satis- 
fied that he would prove a good leader. 

“Father Buck has spoken well,” White Tail 
began, as he glanced proudly around at the 
herd. “His leadership has been successful, 
and I shall make it more so. If I fail you, 
may I fall in the chase and break my neck! 
If I show weakness or cowardice, may Puma 
or Timber Wolf pull me down and eat out my 
heart! If I show lack of wisdom and justice, 
may Loup the Lynx or Sneaky trip me, and 
devour me. I shall be your leader, and next 
to me — ” 

He stopped and glanced from one to an- 
other. He had the right to choose the one 
next to him in power, one who would lead the 
herd if he were sick or away. 

“ — and the next to me in authority,” he 
added, “comes Young Black Buck. I have no 
ill will for him. The past must be forgotten. 
All I ask from him is loyalty and support. 
The safety of the herd must always be his first 
thought. He must give his life, if necessary, 


White Tail Made Leader of Herd 133 


to protect the does and fawns in my absence. 
Do you promise this, Young Black Buck?’’ 

Surprised by this honor thrust so unexpect- 
edly upon him, Young Black Buck opened his 
weary eyes, and jumped to his feet. He trotted 
into the circle, and once more held his head 
high. 

^‘White Tail,” he began in a trembling 
voice, “I don’t deserve this, but if you ask it I 
shall accept. I pledge loyalty and friendship. 
I shall make it the law of my life to support 
your leadership and to do all I can for the 
herd. Is that enough?” 

*Tt is all we can ask, Young Black Buck,” 
answered White Tail. “Now, under the 
Council Tree, we pledge ourselves to the serv- 
ice of the herd and to each other’s support. 
Let it be understood that when I am away. 
Young Black Buck shall be in command, and 
it is the duty of every one to follow and obey 
him. It is so agreed! The Council is now 
finished.” 

The meeting immediately broke up, and 
the deer and bucks mingled together to con- 
gratulate the new leaders, for the council had 
ended happily, and there was no bitter feeling 
carried away. The older ones related to the 
young ones stories of other similar meetings 


134 White Tail’s Adventures 

under the Council Tree, and the latter listened 
eagerly to these tales. 

Father Buck and Mother Deer withdrew 
silently, leaving White Tail in command, with 
the whole herd crowding around him to flat- 
ter and congratulate. There was a new spring 
in the ex-leader’s steps as he trotted away, and 
Mother Deer, walking along by his side, no- 
ticed it. 

“You do not act like a fallen leader,” she 
said, smiling. “I haven’t seen you walk so 
lightly and happily for a long time.” 

“A fallen leader is not always to be pitied, 
my dear,” Father Buck replied. “The great- 
est thing he can do is to lead his people suc- 
cessfully, and the next greatest thing is to rear 
a son to take his place. Have I not done 
both?” 

Mother Deer nodded and smiled. Father 
Buck turned to her and affectionately licked 
her neck. “And the greatest thing you could 
do,” he added, “ is to train your son so that he 
is worthy to lead. I’m proud of White Tail, 
and still prouder of you. Mother Deer. He 
is your sonl” 

A little later White Tail found them to- 
gether in the woods, talking and smiling, and 
so happy in the possession of each other’s love 
that neither seemed to regret the loss of author- 


White Tail Made Leader of Herd 135 


ity. And White Tail, watching them, said 
to himself : 

“The honor of being leader of the herd is 
not all mine. I owe much of it to them. 
They have trained me and taught me, and suf- 
fered for me, that I might succeed. I shall 
never forget that,” 

And to the end of his days, which were 
many. White Tail never forgot that to have 
good parents was greater even than to be 
leader of the herd. 

The next story in the Twilight Series is en- 
titled: Washer the Raccoon. 



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Bumper the White Rabbit 


STORY I 

WHERE BUMPER CAME FROM 

There was once an old woman who had so 
many rabbits that she hardly knew what to do. 
They ate her out of house and home, and kept 
the cupboard so bare she often had to go to bed 
hungiy. But none of the rabbits suffered this 
way. They all had their supper, and their break- 
fast, too, even if there wasn’t a crust left in the 
old woman’s cupboard. 

There were big rabbits and little rabbits; lean 
ones and fat ones; comical little youngsters who 
played pranks upon their elders, and staid, se- 
rious old ones who never laughed or smiled the 
livelong day; boy rabbits and girl rabbits, 
mother rabbits and father rabbits, and goodness 
knows how many aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, 
cousins, second cousins and distant relatives-in- 
law! They all lived imder one big roof in th^ 

The continuation of this interesting story will be found in 
BUMPER THE WHITE RABBIT 

Price 65 Cents Postpaid 

THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY, Publishers 

517 S. Wabash A ve. Winston Building 129 Spadina Ave. 

CHICAGO, ILL. PHILADELPHIA, PA. TORONTO, ONT. 


BUSTER THE BIG BROWN 
BEAR 

STORY I 

When Buster Was a Cub 

In the North Woods where Buster was 
born, a wide river tinkles merrily over stones 
that are so white you’d mistake them for snow- 
balls, if you were not careful, and begin pelt- 
ing each other with them. The birches hang- 
ing over the water look like white sticks of 
peppermint candy, except in the spring of the 
year when they blossom out in green leaves, 
and then they make you think of fairyland 
where everything is painted the colors of the 
rainbow. 

The rocks that slope up from the bank of 
the river are dented and broken as if some 
giant in the past had smashed them with his 
hammer, cracking some and punching deep 
holes in others. It was in one of these holes, 
or caves, that Buster was born. 

He didn’t mind the hard rocky floor of his 
bed a bit, nor did he mind the darkness, nor 
the cold winds that swept through the open 
doorway. He was so well protected by his 

The continuation of this interesting story will be found in 
BUSTER THE BIG BROWN BEAR 
Price 65 Cents Postpaid 

THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY, Publishers 

517 S. Wabash Ave. Winston Building 129 Spadina Ave. 

CHICAGO, ILL. PHILADELPHIA, PA. TORONTO, ONT. 








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